Education : A Sustainable Way for Mainstreaming the Children of Sex Workers
BACKGROUND Sex work is considered as the most hatred means of livelihood. The women in sex trade and their children are discriminated, exploited, oppressed and stigmatized in many ways . About 3,500 SWs and their inmates live in Daulatdia brothel. They are mostly illiterates and therefore are financially exploited in several ways and do not have any choice for alternative livelihood. Presently, SWs have over 850 children in Daulatdia brothel. Traditionally the female child of SWs opts for sex business and the male child gets involved in antisocial activities. Contd… 2
BACKGROUND In 2000, PIACT undertook a comprehensive program in Daulatdia brothel to address these issues through various interventions with the objective of mainstreaming them in the society. The program was supported by DSS/UNDP Since 2003, PIACT has been implementing another program to improve well-being of SWs and their children through promoting and protecting human rights, empowering them to protect and prevent violence and ensure accessibility to the public services and entitlements, with support from Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF). 3
Daulatdia is situated in the district of Rajbari under Dhaka Division 4
Education for the Children of Sex Workers Mainstreaming through providing safe home facilities and education has been a great success. The program included safe home facilities for the children of SWs at Daulatdia where they were provided with accommodation, food, care, protection, entertaining activities, health services, basic education including religious education, pre-formal education and admission in the formal school. Children at PIACT safe home (2006) Contd… 5
Education for the Children of Sex Workers Over one hundred children of ages 3 to 12 years were living in the safe home of PIACT and received the facilities. The program support from DSS/UNDP was available up to June 2007. Children taking physical exercise (2007) Since then, a limited number of children have been staying in the PIACT safe home and pursuing their study. Some of the children were transferred to the safe home of the government and NGOs. Some of them were handed over to their mothers. However, none of the children returned to the brothel . Contd… 6
Education for the Children of Sex Workers A total of 25 children could not be placed anywhere and their mothers either died or were not traceable or could not afford to take their children away. Those children have been staying in PIACT safe home with support from PIACT and partly from MJF and some of the mothers of the Some adolescent girls at PIACT safe home studying in school and college (July 2013) children. Those children made tremendous successes in education. Some of the female children were fortunate to be integrated in the society through job placement and social marriage in respectable and affluent families during the course of their study. 7
Some Notable Instances of Mainstreaming the Children of SWs Mousumi, a girl grew up at PIACT Safe Home completed 5 years schooling and then got admitted in a madrasa in Manikgonj district according to her desire in 2008. She got married to a businessman there in a respectable family. Her marriage ceremony was arranged in a community center in Director, PIACT playing the role of father of the bride Manikgonj town. Her teachers in in the wedding ceremony (2010) the religious school managed the whole affairs of the marriage along with PIACT. Mousumi is leading a decent family life and gave birth to a male child Mousumi with her husband and son on 8 August 2013. (December 2014) Contd… 8
Some Notable Instances of Mainstreaming the Children of SWs A male child, Md. Kamal Hossain, brought up in PIACT Safe Home and passed his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination in 2012. Then he got admitted in Bangladesh- Korea Technical Training Center (BKTTC) in Dhaka and completed a one year course with support from PIACT. After completion his course he got a Md. Kamal Hossain (2014) job in a renowned factory as Technical Operator and now he is earning a handsome salary Contd… 9
Some Notable Instances of Mainstreaming the Children of SWs Bijli, brought up at PIACT Safe Home and passed the Secondary School Certificate examination in 2012. After passing the SSC exam she got admitted in a local college at Daulatdia. A boy from a civil society fall in love with her and his family Bijli (2012) proposed to the PIACT officials for their marriage. In the presence of the community people and civil society PIACT arranged their marriage and they got bonded of their new life. She is passing a good time with his husband and other family members of her in-laws house. She has become a mother in 2014. Bizli with her son (December 2014) 10 Contd…
Some Notable Instances of Mainstreaming the Children of SWs Ritu, another girl, brought up in the safe home of PIACT and was getting her education in a local school at Daulatdia. She also got married in a respectable family and passing her family life like other community people. Ritu with her husband and son 11 Contd…
Some Notable Instances of Mainstreaming the Children of SWs Four girls of PIACT safe home who have 8-12 years schooling recently got admitted into Sheikh Fozilatunnasa Mujib Mohila Technical Training Center in Dhaka for Vocational Training in a 6 months training course on Electronics for Functional Chumki, Bonna, Prainka and immediate job placement after Shilpi at PIACT head Office the training 12
Some Notable Instances of Mainstreaming the Children of SWs The female child of SWs Ms. Shymoli brought up at PIACT Safe Home, she passed SSC Exam last year and admitted in HSC at local College at Dalutdia. Last Month she got admitted in Gonoshastha Kendra at Savar Dhaka for 3 years long Paramedic course Ms. Shymoli with the support of PIACT Akter Bangladesh . Now She shifted at GSK hostel at Savar, Dhaka 13
Challenges Pressure comes from the mother and other stakeholders to engage the female child in sex business and this is the big challenge to the female child to continue their education Getting admission into the formal school without the name of father was a big challenge which were overcome over the time through negotiation with the school management committee and the opinion leaders of the community Having education of children of SWs in the public school along with the mainstream children of the community was a big challenge which was overcome through social mobilization 14
Recommendations In order to provide education to the children of sex workers in the formal school, continuous dialogue and advocacy with the school management committee, opinion leaders, religious leaders, local administration and other relevant stakeholders should be a continuous effort Our experience suggests that providing education to the children of sex workers is a worthy investment for social integration and is a sustainable approach for mainstreaming them Education for children of sex workers should be in line with life skills and vocational so as to get job placement or self employment 15
Hafez Abu Yusuf (Quran ‐ e ‐ Hafez) He is playing as an Ambassador to reduce the stigma and discrimination of SWs in the Society 16
Thank you 17
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