48 children of Rana Plaza victims find safe home

Children who lost their families in the Rana Plaza disaster have found a safe place to thrive, thanks to the philanthropic initiative of Old Rajshahi Cadets Association (ORCA).  

At the moment, ‘ORCA Homes’, located at Hossainpur village in Phulchhari Upazila of Gaibandha, accommodates 48 children whose parents died or became crippled in the 2013 disaster.

The 28 boys and 20 girls were referred by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) after ORCA set up the home in December 2014, said ORCA Director Jahidul Huq.

“The children are provided with food, clothes, and medical care free of cost. All of them are aged below 16 and are studying at a local school. There are separate floors for boys and girls,” he said.

The director added that the three-storey building has a capacity to accommodate 100 children and eventually, children deprived of basic needs due to poverty and other circumstances would also be accommodated.

Former students of Rajshahi Cadet College raised Tk 90 lakh to establish the home, he noted. When asked about funds, Jahidul said, “It comes mostly through donations from cadets living at home and abroad. Trade organisations grant aids, BGMEA donates Tk 50,000 every month.”

There were 15-20 paid supervisors and tutors to take care of the children, said Jahidul. “They treat the children with utmost love and care and provide them with basic religious education as well.”

Children expressed content over the facilities when this correspondent visited the home recently.

Oli Hasan is the eldest among the children. One-and-a-half-years ago, he was brought from Chattogram where ORCA runs a similar home but in a smaller scale.

Oli said he had been enjoying his stay at the Gaibandha home.

“Thanks to ORCA, they arranged everything for us. We are getting a homely environment. I am happy with the ways the caregivers treat us,” said Fatema Akhter Mim, 13.

Sonali Akhter, another resident of the home, said, “By the grace of God, I have found this shelter home. Otherwise it would have been very difficult for me to survive. I was all by myself after my mother died in the Savar building collapse,” recalled the 13-year-old girl.

Jahidul told this paper, “Our aim is to make these children self-reliant so that they can lead a dignified life in the society.”

In April 2013, an eight-storey commercial building, Rana Plaza, that housed a number of garment factories, collapsed leaving 1,129 people dead and about 2,515 injured.

Source: thedailystar