Day 1 - Sunday 28 November: Arrive in Dhaka
We will meet with the WaterAid Bangladesh staff to learn more about the country programme and theWaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) sector in Bangladesh. We will also be giving a presentation on what we and our companies do to fundraise and raise awareness of WaterAid's work and how 2.6 billion people don't have somewhere safe, private or hygienic to go to the toilet and 884 million don't have a safe water supply. Day 2 - Monday 29 November: Dhaka - Visit to a non-intervened slum community
Many of the people living in the slums in Dhaka have no legal right to the land they live on, which can make it difficult to gain access to a safe water supply and sanitation. During the morning we will:
- Discuss with the Community about theWaSH situation and livelihood conditions.
- Visit slum households to observe their living conditions and water and sanitation facilities.
- Listen to the slum dwellers and understand the challenges they face.
Day 3 - Tuesday 30 November: Koira, Khulna - A day in the life of a household in a pre-intervention area
Bangladesh has been described as the largest river delta in the world. A few years ago, about 97% of people had access to water points through tubewells, but the discovery of arsenic in the ground water has reduced the safe water coverage to 74%. We will:
- Visit rural families and observe how and from where they collect potable water and learn about the plight of the drinking water crisis.
- Help the family in collecting water from apond and other available sources.
- Observe the sanitation facilities and talk to women and children to understand their sanitation and hygiene practices.
- Visit a school compound in the nearby community and talk to the students and teachers.
Day 4 - Wednesday 1 December: Shyamnagar, Satkhira - Visit to the Rural Programme
Due to the low lying nature of the land, people are affected by the severe monsoon flooding which can
displace huge numbers of people and impact on livelihoods. We will be visiting the rehabilitation of a disaster
resilient pond and visiting the water supply and sanitation infrastructure work that has been suported
by WaterAid:
- Visit the Pond sand filter, low-cost rain water harvestingsystem and and community / market latrine
- Interacting with user groups and caretakers
- Meeting and discussion with CBO leaders, Management committee and local leaders
Day 5 - Thursday 2 December: Khulna - Visit to Urban Activities
We will be visiting the urban slum areas to see where projects are being delivered. We will:
- Discuss with CBO leaders and slum people
- Visit water points, community latrines and see the production of low cost sanitary napkins.
- Visit and take part in construction of community latrine.
Day 6 - Friday 3 December: Dhaka - Visit to post-intervention slum
Today's visit will be a complete contrast to Monday's visit and will show the difference that is made through
the completion of a scheme. We will:
- Visit water and sanitation facilities developed by WA funding
- Discuss with CBO leaders and beneficiaries
- Visit a latrine complex for differently able people
Dearest Sarah,
Best wishes for the trip. I know that your commitment, passion, energy and empathy will make you an invaluable member of the trip - and endear you to all who meet you.
Pamela