Annual Reports 2004: Welfare

Anowara Ahmed

The report of the Welfare Committee for 2003-2004.

It is my privilege and honour to present the report of the Welfare Committee for 2003-4.

The Committee continued its tradition of help and service to those in need in the past year according to the purpose and criteria of UNWA. This year 15 projects were assisted. In addition, seven cases of special emergency assistance requests were approved by the Committee from the Little Miracle Fund.(LMF). A total amount of Taka 1,051,760 was disbursed by the Welfare Committee - Taka 894,860 granted to the 15 regular projects and Taka 157,000 granted from the LMF.

At the recommendation of the Welfare Committee, the UNWA Board agreed to provide multi-year assistance to three highly deserving projects on 16 October 2003. The projects are Ibrahim School, Center for Training and Rehabilitation of Destitute Women (CTRDW), and Blue Sisters’ Clinic in Badda. These projects will receive grants in 2004 and 2005 upon submission of request indicating proposed use of the funds.

The Welfare Committee followed diligently the procedures and criteria for considering each request for assistance. Applicants were required to present their requests in a prescribed form containing a list of questions regarding the project and purpose of the assistance requested. After preliminary discussion in the Committee, each project site was visited by several members and a report was submitted to the Committee. The Committee then reviewed the application and the report of the site visit and made a recommendation to the UNWA Board.

Regarding submission of proposal, the requirement of itemised breakdown of costs has been applied more strictly in order for the Committee and the Board to evaluate better the proposed use of the funds and whether these met UNWA criteria. The Board also introduced this year the system of handing over checks at the general meetings of UNWA. This would allow more visibility of the projects that are assisted and of the welfare activities of UNWA.

In the case of LMF, Committee Members and other members of UNWA bring to the attention of the Committee Chair highly deserving cases in need of emergency assistance. Because of the emergency nature of this assistance, a decision is taken either through discussion in the Committee or by the Chairperson in consultation with Committee members and the Board is informed of the decision by the Welfare Chair.

The Welfare Committee met 10 times between April 2003 to March 2004. Committee members visited some 16 projects of which 14 were selected for assistance.

We bade farewell last April to two Committee members, Kate Arnold and Caroline van Zoolingen.The Committee has four hard-working members at present including the Chair. The members are Edith Campbell, Benedicte Giersing, and Eva Munk.

The 21 projects supported this year represent a range of needs and programme activities. Mostly, assistance was provided for destitute and needy children, including abandoned and orphaned children. The LMF grants literally meant the difference between life and death for the recipients. Projects are located in and around Dhaka which can be visited and monitored by the Committee, according to our guidelines. We have published reports periodically about Welfare activities in Womun to keep you all informed.

The principal source of funds for UNWA’s Welfare activities, as in past years, was the UNWA Ball in October. The Welfare Committee took part in organising this flagship event. The Welfare Committee members helped sell raffle tickets at the Ball worth Taka 58, 950. Another fund-raising initiative was the sale of umbrellas with the UNWA logo at the general meetings and other events. Taka 10,400 were raised from these sales.

On behalf of the Welfare Committee, I thank again all members of UNWA whose support and interest have made it possible for the Welfare Committee to achieve its goals.

Submitted by the UNWA Welfare Committee Chairperson Anowara Ahmed
22 March 2004