Oct 1-3, 2007
Nippon Kan computers all in a row…
Nippon Kan Kancho Gaku Homma visited Bangladesh for the second time this year in response to emergency conditions there. Massive flooding occurred over the summer in Bangladesh and on August 26th, 2007, Nippon Kan instructors and students held a marathon fundraising seminar to raise funds for flood relief. To ensure that the funds raised were used the most effectively, Homma Kancho, who had been teaching a seminar in Nepal came personally to oversee aid distribution. His trip was very brief but very productive.
My family owns the Sea Land Hotel in Dhaka where Homma Kancho always stays when he comes to visit. On this visit, we barely had time to take his bags to his room before we opened all of the boxes he had brought with him and headed out to the Dharmarajika Orphanage, supplies in hand. This summer AHAN shipped 40 computers from Nippon Kan Headquarters in Denver to the Dharmarajika Orphanage in Dhaka, and Homma Kancho wanted to check on how the computers were being used. He brought with him spare hardware for any of the computers that might have been damaged during transport and about $8,500 worth of medicines and medical supplies that we delivered to the doctors staffing the orphanage. That first day we also negotiated the one ton monthly delivery of rice to the Dharmarajika Orphanage and the Madrasah Orphanage through the end of the year 2007.
Homma Kancho in the new computer classroom.
-
- Homma Kancho with the Venerable Mahathero.
-
- With orphanage medical staff.
The Madrasah Orphanage was built over a swampy landfill so the foundation for the buildings that house the orphaned girls is unstable at best. In 2002, many parts of the orphanage completely burned to the ground and reconstruction continues very slowly as funds and materials become available. In the meantime over 300 girls are housed, fed and schooled in temporary and very dire conditions. Construction tarps and bamboo scaffolding serve as housing and classroom facilities for the girls.
Homma Kancho met with Madrasah Orphanage director Maolana Mohammad Abdur Rahman and inspected the orphanage grounds to see what was needed the most. Homma Kancho decided to purchase 130 bags of cement to make drainage barriers for flood overflow and to enforce walls in the classrooms and living quarters. He also arranged for 20 ceiling fans, eight large blackboards, a new administrative computer (records of the girls were still being kept by hand ledger) a hot and cold drinking water filtration system and some medications. Please link here to Homma Kancho’s article about his experiences in Bangladesh “NEW DEFINITIONS FOR GRADUATE HUMANITARIAN STUDIES”,
-
- Happy to receive.
-
- Buying cement with Rahman (Madrasah Orphanage leader).
-
- 20 ceiling fans delivered.
-
- Delivery of 8 new blackboards.
-
- The first administrative computer for Madrasah (from AHAN)
-
- Receipt from Madrasah
In the United States, it costs between $10-$15 to dispose of a computer in an ecologically sound manner. Through AHAN we have been able to prove that what was to be discarded can come to life again and is helping to build a better future here in Bangladesh. We need to ask the Bangladesh government or United Nations for whatever special licensing or permission might be needed to continue to develop this computer redistribution program here.”**
-
- Madrasah Orphanage was built over a landfill.
-
- Pathway to the orphanage.
Homma Kancho as usual lives as the people he visits when he comes to Bangladesh and although we used taxis periodically when carrying lots of supplies, we went most places by rickshaw, riding with everyone else through the heat, dust and noise of the streets of Dhaka. Homma Kancho always says he enjoys traveling by rickshaw, “Bangladesh style”.
Homma Kancho wanted to express his gratitude to my father, my family and the hotel staff for their support and understanding of the philosophy and activities of AHAN in Bangladesh, and a special thank you to Ratan Kumar (the barber) who is always there to help, and gives a great massage after a long day of rickshaw rides!
I would like to thank all of the people that I have not been able yet to meet in America who have shared in these activities in Bangladesh. It makes me very happy to see what help AHAN has brought to our Bangladesh. Thank you very much!
-
- Maji (on the right) and his family.
-
- The end of Ramadan. Hotel staff joins the celebration.
Written by
Ahan Nipppon Kan Bangladesh Coordinator Maji Sarkar
**note from editor.
Currently there is legislation in the United Nations to stop the importation of used computer equipment to underdeveloped countries. This new regulation is being legislated because of a growing problem of “computer dumping.” Some underdeveloped countries have become the dumping ground for used computer equipment discarded by developed nations and the problem is on the rise.
In compliance with these new regulations, Nippon Kan and AHAN can only accept complete Pentium IV (or better) full computer sets in working order. We hope to be able to obtain special permission to export older computer systems abroad as Bangladesh is a good example of how even older computers can be put to good use if regulated and supervised carefully.
If you are ever in the capitol city of Dhaka, Bangladesh wonderful accommodations are available at Maji’s family hotel!
HOTEL SEALAND
Centrally located in front of the Kamlapur Train Station and Central Bus Terminal. As you leave the Kamlapur station’s main exit, you can see the sign for the HOTEL SEALAND to the left on the main street.
CLEAN, SAFE, GREAT FOR BACKPACKERS!
With AC, Double $13.00 per night, Single rooms less.
Email dkline@aitlbd.net