CU Correspondent
‘Ek Takay Shikkha’, a voluntary organization working for underprivileged children’s education, celebrated its 10th founding anniversary at Chittagong University (CU) on Tuesday, July 14. The event took place at the auditorium next to the Central Library.
The program was hosted by Ujjayini Roy and Tahsin Ibnat, with organization president Sanu Akter Nodi presiding. Those present included founder Md. Rizwan, founding senior vice president Mohammad Sayed Chafi, former president Minhaj Uddin, founding member and former senior vice president Samsuddoha Sourav, advisor Sajjad Hossain Hridoy, CUCSU general secretary Sayed Bin Habib, secretary for library and cafeteria affairs Masum Billah, joint secretary for literature and culture Jihad Ahnaf, executive members Sohanur Rahman and Salman Forsi, along with former and current executive members, teachers, volunteers and well-wishers of the organization.
In his welcome address, general secretary Amartya Saha spoke about the organization’s ongoing projects, number of beneficiaries, classroom activities and future plans. He also raised the need for a permanent office space, requesting support from the CU administration and CUCSU to help expand the organization’s work.
Founder Md. Rizwan said the organization began its journey in 2017 with the goal of ensuring no student’s education is disrupted due to financial hardship. He said the group now runs Eid programs, humanitarian support and various social activities alongside its education work. He added that all income and expenditure details are published on the website to maintain transparency, and that after long effort the organization managed to launch a bKash subscription-based donation system, which other organizations are now following as well.
Mohammad Sayed Chafi said that although there were doubts in the beginning about whether the dream could be realized, the love and trust of people along with the tireless efforts of volunteers have brought ‘Ek Takay Shikkha’ successfully to its 10th year. Samsuddoha Sourav recalled the group’s early days, saying volunteers used to put one taka into a plastic box every day, and the money was tallied and deposited into the organization’s fund at the end of each month. That small initiative, he said, has now grown into a large social movement.
Sajjad Hossain Hridoy said that while many organizations work on various social issues, very few are dedicated specifically to education, and he hoped the goal ‘Ek Takay Shikkha’ set out with would eventually spread nationwide. CUCSU general secretary Sayed Bin Habib said countless underprivileged children across Bangladesh still lack access to education, and that ‘Ek Takay Shikkha’ is making an important contribution by creating opportunities for them. CUCSU executive member Sohanur Rahman, sharing his experience as a former volunteer teacher with the organization, said his involvement had left a positive impact on his personal life as well, and wished the organization future success.
In her presidential address, Sanu Akter Nodi said, “In our own words: we are working toward a goal of bringing the light of education to every child in society. Over the past decade, the organization has tried to bring positive change through teaching street children and underprivileged students, offering one-time education scholarships and running various humanitarian programs. We will continue working tirelessly to fulfill this commitment in the years ahead.”
A documentary on the organization’s 10-year journey was screened during the event. This was followed by cultural performances, including dance, songs and recitation, by students from the classroom project. The program also featured an award segment, where classroom teachers received certificates, a “Best Teacher Award” was announced, prizes were given to winners of a children’s cultural competition, and former and current teacher-volunteers were honored with certificates recognizing their work. The event ended with a cake-cutting ceremony joined by classroom students, marking the conclusion of the 10th anniversary celebration.