Homma Kancho visits Bangladesh

May 20th -27th, 2008

Activity 1 Investigating the Environmental Impact of Global Warming

Our hired river boat.

Six hours by night train northwest of the capital city of Dhaka, Bangladesh is the city of Rajshahi on the banks of the Badma river. I had heard about the impact of changing climate conditions on the lives of the people of Rajshahi and traveled to Rajshahi to learn about conditions there myself…

Link here to Homma Kancho’s new article “Chasing Out the Poor and the Young Take a Stand for the Future; Reflections on Bangladesh”.

Activity 2 Traditional Opera and Theatre Troupe Changing Lives.

Homma Kancho with traditional opera and theater minstrel’s troupe.

Forty-five minutes by car from Rajshahi, close to the border between Bangladesh and India is the town of Chapai-Nawabganji. This quaint countryside village looks peaceful, but as this area so close to the border, drug and weapon smuggling and even human trafficking is a major problem. This makes Chapai-Nawabganji and the surrounding territory more lawless than peaceful.

To combat the negative effects these dangerous and illegal activities have had on the people in these local communities, a traditional opera and theater troupe has created a traveling performance that teaches young and old alike many lessons about social wellness through song, dance and theater.

US Army Special Teams, the Bangladesh Army, local Bangladesh Police and local NGO organizations have joined together for the first time in Bangladesh history to institute projects for community development…

Link here to Homma Kancho’s new article “Chasing Out the Poor and the Young Take a Stand for the Future; Reflections on Bangladesh”.

Written by
Nippon Kan Editing Staff

Activity 3 Madrasah Orphange for Girls Facility Rehabilitation; Support for New Doors and Windows.

Third floor construction site.

: The new facility being built is behind current facility.

: A goal of 5 floors!

While in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, Homma Kancho visited the Madrasah Orphange to check on the implementation of the last AHAN support donations of cement, blackboards, ceiling fans medicines and an administrative computer in October 2007. AHAN also supports the Madrasah Orpanage with 500 kilos or rice every month, and is currently helping the Madrasah Orphange to rebuild and expand their facility.

I, Maji Sarkar, AHAN Bangladesh coordinator and AHAN staff member Ratan Kumar Bhowmik accompanied Homma Kancho during his time spent in Dhaka. We were happy to see that construction had resumed with the cement donated by AHAN last October, and showed progress. The first floor office area had been completed and much progress had been made on completing a third floor to the facility.

Madrasah Orphanage staff.

: Meeting to discuss new iron doors and window frames; Maji, (behind) and Ratan (in white shirt).

: They say they can fix this bus and use it!

There are 250 girls currently living at the orphanage. Plans have been made to expand the facility to house up to 500 girls with more comfortable accommodations. Not all of the girls that live at the Madrasah Orphanage are actually orphans. Many of them have living parents, but the conditions at home are so critical that they cannot be supported at home. There are many different reasons why the girls live at the orphanage including poverty, child abuse, family illness or other family hardships. Living at the orphanage, the girls are provided with a safe place to live, simple foods, limited medical attention and an education; all very valuable commodities in Bangladesh. During the major holidays like Ramadan, many of the girls return home for the holidays. Some families cannot afford the long trip home to the countryside for their girls to visit during the holidays so some of the girls remain at the orphanage year round.

Donations delivery supervised by Maji.

The construction showed great progress, but there were no current funds available for windows and doors for the classrooms. Homma Kancho arranged to deliver six doors, seven window frames and windows and 12 fans to the orphanage. It is AHAN policy not to donate money directly, so Homma Kancho personally arranged for the purchase and delivery of the doors, windows and fans directly from the manufacturers. I personally supervised the deliveries and obtained receipts for all donated items. Homma Kancho told the leaders of the Madrasah Orphanage, “The first time I visited here, you opened your doors and welcomed me. Our relationship and the development of projects here have been growing ever since that day. This time we will be providing doors and windows for your facility. Once the doors are in place, please do not shut them to us.” Everyone laughed at Homma Kancho’s joke and one of the elders replied, “Don’t worry; the new doors will be mounted on hinges so they will always be open.”

Written by
AHAN Bangladesh Coordinator
Maji Sarkar

Activity 4 Computer Supplies Delivered to the Dharmarajika Orphange

Delivery of computer parts.

The 50 computers donated by AHAN Nippon Kan General Headquarters to the Dharmarajika Orphanage have been used successfully to set up a computer skills program for the young people in their care. Homma Kancho and I stopped by to check on the development of the computer education program and to deliver replacement power supplies and other replacement parts needed for the computers. Homma Kancho was very happy with the progress of the computer program and the enrichment the computers were bringing to life at the Dharmarajika Orphanage. Hopefully someday we will be able to upgrade these computers as the program grows. Until then, we will continue to deliver 500 kilos of rice per month to the Dharmarajika Orphanage.

: Kancho with the Dharmarajika monks.

: At last!. The ladies of the kitchen finally know us well enough to pose for a picture together.

Written by
AHAN Bangladesh Coordinator
Maji Sarkar

Activity 5 Children’s Picture Exchange and Award Presentation for Best Pictures!

Paris Elementary School drawing award ceremony

Last holiday season, the Nippon Kan General Headquarter Youth Program began a picture exchange with children at the Paris Elementary School in Dhaka by sending hand drawn New Year’s cards to Bangladesh. In return, the children at Paris Elementary School sent cards back to the students in the Nippon Kan Youth Program this past spring. A contest was held at Nippon Kan Headquarters and the top three drawings were selected. On this visit, Homma Kancho awarded plaques and ribbons to the top three children artists. Nippon Kan Headquarters also donated art supplies to the Paris Elementary School teacher Mr. Rubuer and a collection of new drawings from the Nippon Kan Youth Program and their classmates at the Free Horizon Montessori school of Denver.

Art class.

Written by
AHAN Bangladesh Coordinator
Maji Sarkar

Activity 6 Bangladesh Coordinator Visits Nepal

July 3rd-9th, 2008

Maji with students in Nepal. From left: Dayangi, Instructor Rajesh, Maji and Instructor Mariusz.

AHAN Bangladesh Coordinator Maji Sarkar traveled to Nepal July 3rd-9th to visit with the Nepal Aikido Association to practice Nippon Kan Aikido with students there. Currently, at Homma Kancho’s direction, only AHAN activities were developed in Bangladesh but no Aikido program. As soon as a Nippon Kan instructor is qualified for the position in Bangladesh, an Aikido program will begin. “As soon as the time is right” says Nippon Kan Kancho Gaku Homma.

Click here to read Homma Kancho’s article “Chasing Out the Poor and the Young Take a Stand for the Future; Reflections on Bangladesh”.

Click here to read Maji Sarkar’s report on his trip to Nepal.

Written by Nippon Kan Editor Staff