Change for Noakhali

Change for NoakhaliMaryam Khan and Joe Rodriguez

Idea Stage

• Started out with two different ideas

- Medical Field

- Hispanic Community

• Common Ground

-Overseas Impact

-Student Ambassadors

-Education

Planning/Preparation• Locating School and Establishing

Contacts

• Bengali Student Association (BSA)

-Monir Ahammad: Graduate student at Texas A&M, primary contact with Protapganj High School

-Md. Sirajul Islam: Headmaster of school, located in Bangladesh

Monir Ahammad

1450 students currently attend the school 

Countless numbers of students unable to attend because of the school's limited resources. With the vast amount of technology

available to us, we end up taking it for granted. This school only

has one computer that is used exclusively for administrative purposes.

300 students are recruited every year30 teachers teaching with what they have  

Protapganj High School• Started in 1934 from rural

cottage

• Students from grade 6 (12 years of age) to grade 10 (16 years of age)

• The School is located in Chandraganj, Luximpur District.

• Changraganj is a business center surrounded by many rural towns.

Protapganj High School

Noakhali

Protapganj High School

Mission

• To provide technological resources such as laptops and projectors for the teachers and students to utilize in enhancing their learning process. 

• To connect with the students and gain a better understanding of the Bangladeshi culture and traditions.

Problems

• First plan was Pen-Pal Program, changed when we found out about lack of technological resources at high school

• Original selected school did not contact us

• Communication with the headmaster was very limited

• Fundraising on campus

• Cultural Night, put on hold because of BSA

Measure of Success

• Original goal was to raise $1000 to purchase supplies for the school

• Raised about $300, with plans to continue in the future

• Cultural Night scheduled for next semester

• Although we did not meet our monetary goal, we succeeded in establishing contact with the school and laying the foundation for next year.

What We Learned

• PATIENCE – It takes more effort to establish contact than to fundraise

• Teamwork – Working with different parties for a common goal

• Persistence – stick with it

• Communication – time difference, language barrier, lifestyle

• Priorities

Sustainability

• We figured out early on this would be a long-term project

• This semester was spent laying the foundation for the future

• Continue fundraising

• Establish better contact with school and students

Contact Information Maryam Khan

maryamidreeskhan@gmail.com

254.220.6878

Joe Rodriguez

joerod92@yahoo.com

956.566.7431