YOUR COMMUNITY IN LAUDOB

Laudob Area Development Programme (ADP) encompasses 124 villages near the Pusur River. It is in Bangladesh’s Khulna District about 430 kilometres southwest of the capital city, Dhaka. To the south lies the Sundarbans mangrove forest, known for its unique wildlife including the Royal Bengal tiger.
In partnership with World Vision, the Laudob community has identified their greatest needs. World Vision is working with them to improve their lives in these areas.

Agriculture and income generation

The land in Laudob is very fertile, so agriculture is the main source of income. Farmers grow rice and vegetables and keep cows, goats, chickens and ducks. The amount of farm land available is decreasing because of river erosion and population pressure, so farmers struggle to grow enough food. Some families don’t own any land and must find work elsewhere, eg. on farms or factories. Many people are unemployed.
World Vision teaches farmers new techniques for agriculture, livestock raising and fish farming. It provides improved seeds, establishes irrigation systems and promotes conservation.
The ADP trains teenagers in job skills and helps them start small businesses. Through World Vision-established development groups, people regularly contribute a small amount of money to a pooled fund, from which they can borrow to establish or expand businesses. Group members receive training in small business skills.

Health

Groundwater in Laudob is too salty to drink due to the area’s proximity to the Bay of Bengal and, as in many parts of Bangladesh, it is contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic. People who draw their drinking water from unprotected ponds are at risk of contracting waterborne diseases.
Due to travel difficulties and expense, most people go to village healers when they get ill. Pregnant women rely on untrained traditional birth attendants.
Laudob ADP tests wells and fits filters to prevent arsenic poisoning. It constructs rainwater-harvesting systems and provides household water tanks. World Vision teaches people to use safe water, improve their hygiene and prevent waterborne diseases and HIV. It promotes pre and post-natal care, encourages people to seek medical assistance during sickness and trains traditional birth attendants in hygienic techniques.

Community leadership

Many community members belong to development groups. Through these groups they are taught small business skills and contribute to group savings funds. They  also learn about community development, child rights, gender and detrimental social issues such as dowry and early marriage. As development group members grow in confidence, they often use their skills in local government.

Education

Many children drop out before completing primary school, mostly for financial reasons. Secondary and tertiary education is beyond the means of most families.

Laudob ADP refurbishes schools and supplies furniture, materials and sports equipment. It rewards top students, provides stationery and assists with tuition fees. It also holds after school tuition, refresher-training workshops for teachers and community meetings to improve parents’ understanding of the importance of education.

Disaster mitigation

The Laudob area is low lying and vulnerable to cyclones, floods and erosion. World Vision assesses risk, trains community members to prepare for and respond to disasters and establishes early warning systems.

Faith

Most of the people in Laudob are Hindu, although there are some Muslim and Christian families. All community members are welcome to participate in development activities regardless of belief. World Vision facilitates inter-religious dialogue and helps local churches organise development activities.

Sustainable development

World Vision started the Laudob Area Development Programme in 1993, and is empowering the community to drive the development work so it is sustainable. World Vision helps local groups to manage this work until they are able to do it themselves.