Ismot Zerin from Rajshahi

Small initiative turns big

‘ITCHE’ is volunteer organization of the students of Rajshahi University. It was established on 12 February, 2012 by the students of the University. Students from different disciplines are the members of this organization. The first initiative taken by these students was feeding the street children through their income earned from selling flowers in the market. The students enjoyed their works and feel they should from organization which allows them to work in wider space. Thus this backdrop, ‘ITCHE’ which means ‘Will’ in English got established. Today this organization has become model for other youth organization in Rajshahi. Following the ideal of this organization other youth organization named Nobojagaran Shikkha Niketon has been established by other students to help the marginal people particularly Harizon community in education. In the same time Barendra University students formed “Choto Swapna School’ for the slum students being inspired by the success of ITCHE.

Where there is will there is way

The students of Bengali department of Rajshahi University have a will to something good for the street children. They wanted to arrange meal for the children who almost the time remain starving. In order to make their will into reality some students in 2012 started to sell flowers during the 1^st of Falgun, the Bengali month and on the eve of Valentine day as the first day of Falgun and Valetine days are celebrated in festive mode. During the Valentine day they attracted the attention of all by saying “Love the people who mostly need your love”. People being spell bounded by their words bought flowers from them. The students thus accumulated BDT 4000 selling flowers. Based on their decision and will they invited 70 street children and arranged meal for them. Doing this sort of good thing inspire them to do more works that ensure real development of the children as they thought feeding children meal once a day would never make any change and difference in their life. Thus with the aim to do more and help the children growing up with knowledge and skill they felt the importance of an organization by which they could make their dream of doing more good things into reality. Thus they formed ‘ITCHE’ on 12 February, 2012 with the participation of other students in other disciplines.

Why it was named ITCHE?

When the students succeeded to arranged meal for the street students selling flowers to others they started to believe in themselves that they can do what they intend to do. They need a banner for doing more social and welfare work and thus they formed an organization. All the members of the organization gave their opinion for naming the organization. Thus one of them suggested the name ‘ITCHE’ for the organization explaining how their initiatives have led them to form such organization. Most of the members liked the name that fits with their intention. And this way, the organization was named ‘ITCHE’.

The activities of ITCHE

The organization implements different activities within their capacity. They provide coaching and teaching for 22 street students at Mirzapur slum. Students of different discipline are involved in teaching those students. The organization also provides books, materials, pens, pencil, copies, register books and other materials for the student so that they could study properly. In addition, the organization also provides the cloths during festival such as Eid, Puja and other festivals. Besides, during the winter season they collected warm cloths and buy some and distributed among the poors.

Fund collection

The members are determined to implement their activities with their own fund. With the objective to collect fund thus they set temporary flowers shops during the different festivals such as 1^st day of Falguna, 1^st day of Baishakh, Valentine’s day, Chaitra Sangkranti day, victory and independence day as well as during international days and events. They sell those flowers to the people and accumulate cash for running their activities and buying materials for street children education. Besides, each of them provide BDT 20 as monthly fee for the organization and sell books.

And their dream

The members of the organization dream that they will continue to support the street children to continue their study even in higher level. They are determined to make their dream true. They also dream that seeing their initiatives youth in other parts of Bangladesh also take such initiative to stand beside the humanity that will lead in the emergence of progressive and enriched Bangladesh. The members of the organization have established an example to others that if you have good will you surely find a way to make it happens.

Translated by Silvanus Lamin