What We Do

ACROSS SADAKI UNION IN KUMARKHALI UPAZILA, MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY. MANY FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER, CHILDREN ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL, AND SOME PEOPLE LIVE IN POOR HOUSING OR ON THE STREETS. MANY ALSO SUFFER FROM ILLNESS WITHOUT PROPER MEDICAL CARE AND FACE NEGLECT AND HARDSHIP. FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS, SHAM FOUNDATION HAS BEEN WORKING TO SUPPORT THESE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING HELP, PROMOTING EDUCATION, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER FUTURE. 

THE FOUNDATION CONCENTRATES ITS EFFORTS ON TWO KEY AREAS:

• STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL EDUCATION SYSTEM TO REDUCE STUDENT DROPOUT RATES AND PROMOTE GREATER ACCESS TO AND PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION.

• IMPROVING THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES THROUGH TARGETED SUPPORT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. 

UNDER ITS EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, SHAM FOUNDATION WORKS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING KEY SUB-AREAS:

• INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT: PROVIDING DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT, AND THE SUPPLY OF ESSENTIAL RESOURCES (I.E. BOOKS) AND EQUIPMENT.

• SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS: OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS TO ACADEMICALLY PROMISING STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO ENSURE CONTINUED ACCESS TO EDUCATION.

• MICRO-LOANS FOR FAMILIES: EXTENDING SMALL LOANS TO UNDERPRIVILEGED PARENTS OF SCHOOL- AND COLLEGE-GOING CHILDREN TO HELP THEM MEET URGENT HOUSEHOLD NEEDS WITHOUT COMPROMISING THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

• INCOME-GENERATING SUPPORT: EMPOWERING PARENTS THROUGH LIVELIHOOD INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE PROVISION OF RICKSHAWS, VANS, LIVESTOCK (E.G., COWS), OR CAPITAL TO START SMALL BUSINESSES, HELPING THEM ACHIEVE FINANCIAL STABILITY.