In Group A (5 – 9 years), Yuktamukhi Mahapatra’s work was adjudged Best, Athul Das V.S, Second Best and Ananya Agrawal Third Best. In Group B (10 – 14 years), Divya Singh’s work was adjudged Best, Madhurima Nandi, Second Best and Biswadeep Biswas, Third Best.

Bata Children’s Program – Bangladesh established a Library for the children at the Maer Achol Shelter, Dhaka; where 215 children stay. Bookshelf, Table, Chair and Cabinet worth USD 700 and Books worth USD 300 handed over to Ms. Kakoli Nargis Akter, Director, Maer Achol Shelter by Mr. Muhammad Qayyum, Managing Director, Bata Bangladesh in a colorful ceremony organized with the help of 6 nos. of BCP Volunteers contributing 55 volunteering hours.

 

BCP Team Leader- Mr. M. Habibur Rahman, Coordinator- Mr. Rana Kaiser Ahmed, BCP Volunteers, other officials & French volunteer Mr. Arnaud Gastaut shared happy moments with the children of Maer Achol Shelter, who were present in the ceremony and had refreshment with them.

BCP Pakistan has always been participating actively for doing something good for the needy children. In this regard BCP Pakistan arranged a drawing competition amongst the children at a leading Bata store of the city. The theme of the competition was “Save the Global Environment”.

We planned to arrange some healthy activity for the underprivileged children during their summer vacations so they could enjoy it whole heartedly and with freedom. To our surprise, the idea of a drawing competition splendidly worked out and the children enthusiastically enjoyed the whole chunk of it. They were so excited about the coming up event that they started off with their preparations days before it with the help of their teachers and our three volunteers who spent approximately 60 hours with them.

The event was organized on a beautiful windy evening outside a newly opened Bata store in the form of an open air show. We had 25 participants between 9 – 15 years of age who started their art work in the presence of their friends, teachers, and some parents (as there were orphans too). Managing Director, BCP Committee, management officials and employees of Bata Pakistan were also present to support and to cheer them. A beautifully decorated stage, loud music, live video projection on a big screen, enchanting compering, presence of electronic & print media – all this made the event encouraging and entertaining. As the show was arranged at roadside, people passing by stopped and started enjoying it by becoming part of the audience who were applauding the talented children.

The children successfully completed their work in the given time. The chief guest, Mr. M. Imran Malik and BCP Committee members observed each and every drawing closely to come to the conclusion and announced first three positions with the help of the audience poll. Gifts were given to all the participants while the winners were also honoured with shields.

Mr. Imran Malik advised the children to keep participating in such healthy activities in the future which would help them to become a successful and responsible citizen of the country.

BEST DRAWING

SECOND POSITION

THIRD POSITION

THIRD POSITION

The children not only enjoyed the event but requested BCP Pakistan to arrange such lively shows for them in future also.

In the first week of July, 4 volunteers from Bata Shoe Singapore travelled to Bac Giang, Vietnam as part of Bata Children’s Program with the much appreciated help of Bata Shoe Vietnam and their kind volunteers.

Truong Son school, the first school which we visited

Approximately 80 pairs of children slippers and 400 boxes of customized colour pencils donated by Bata Shoe Singapore were brought by the volunteers and distributed to the children at Truong Son School I and II, located in far flung areas of the village. The adorable and brave little children performed in front of us and gifts and snacks were also distributed that made them smile brightly. It was indeed a day of fun and joy.

Children crowding outside the classroom, all eager to receive their little gifts

Bata volunteers giving out customized colour pencils to the children in Truong Son School I

Children smiling happily at the colour pencils they received

Slippers and colour pencils for the children in Truong Son School II

A table full of sweets and snacks waiting to be distributed to the children

Whole class at Truong Son School II singing together under the lead of Ms Dung from Bata Vietnam

Spontaneous little boy who volunteered to perform in front of his classmates

Such a sweet and genuine smile from the little girl who was about to receive her slippers

Happy girls upon receiving their little gifts from us (She’s our personal favourite!)

Apart from the gifts, the main objective of our journey was to help out in the construction of the washrooms sponsored by Bata Children’s Program Singapore at Truong Son School II. The construction of washrooms was sponsored to promote health sanitary habits to the children in Bac Giang, especially since some children were spotted relieving themselves outdoors instead of in the washrooms. Our volunteers painted the newly-built toilets in a cheery shade of yellow, hoping to brighten up school days of the children and to promote better sanitary habits to them to reduce any potential water and sanitation related diseases.

Bata volunteers hard at work painting the exterior together with the school vice principal

Bata volunteers from Vietnam helping out too

Despite the rough journey to the village and the scorching heat, the smiles on the children’s innocent faces from the donated slippers and gifts, as well as the benefits they could gain from the sponsored washrooms made everything absolutely worthwhile.

All volunteers from Singapore and Vietnam after the completion of painting the washroom

La nimas tratan de llevar una vida de familia en "Nuestra casa!

El hogar “Nuestra Casa”   alberga, al momento, a 11 niñas que se encuentran entre los 6 y los 18 años. Éste hogar funciona desde hace 5 años acogiendo en su mayoría a niñas que han sufrido abuso sexual y físico por parte de su entorno familiar (padre, hermano, etc.). También se encuentran aquí, niñas que han sido abandonadas por sus familias o tienen padres alcohólicos, etc.

El grupo de niñas, felices por contar con la donación del BCP con el respaldo de Bata Bolivia para poder ir al colegio con calzados nuevos.

“Nuestra Casa” cuenta con 3 educadoras que se esfuerzan por generar en éste hogar, un ambiente familiar, en el que las niñas se sientan protegidas y amadas. El trabajo más fuerte se inicia al momento de ingreso de cada una de ellas al hogar, pues llegan con severos traumas y miedos que ellas deben superar para sentirse integradas por completo. Las educadoras ayudan a cada una de las niñas a tener una niñez y adolescencia relativamente normales.

Las niñas asisten a escuelas públicas y las educadoras las preparan en diferentes profesiones técnicas como ser: repostería, peinados, corte y confección y otros para que puedan enfrentar el mundo externo y puedan salir adelante cuando llegue el momento.

Felices niñas que recibieron su par de clazado deportivo North Star

GIrls received their sport shoes with joy.

To the date, “Nuestra Casa” shelters 11 girls from 6 to 18 years old. The shelter opened 5 years ago and welcomes girls that have suffered sexual and physical abuse inside their family environment (father, brother, etc.). They also welcome girls that have been abandoned by their families or have alcoholic parents and other similar cases.

“Nuestra Casa” has 3 educators that work hard to provide in this shelter a family environment where girls feel protected and loved. The hardest work starts at the time they arrive to the shelter, since they are traumatized and scared. These problems must be overcome for them to feel integrated. Educators help each one of the girls to have a childhood and teenage lives as close to normal as possible.

Girls live in a "family environment"

Girls attend to public schools and educators prepare them in different technical skills such as baking, tailoring, sewing, etc. for them to face the world and keep moving forward when the time comes.

Some days ago, the Bata Children´s Program visited them on their request. Girls were shy but really kind. Since government does not cover all their needs, they hope people and institutions might help them to continue. The BCP and Bata Bolivia also wanted to help and based on their daily needs, we noticed they did not have sport footwear to attend to school. Some days later, the BCP visited them again, this time with a pair of new North Star sport shoes for each one of them. They were excited to have the new shoes and expressed their joy to be able now,  to attend to school as a “normal” girl. Keep moving forward girls!!

Shy but kind, girls we proud of their new Bata footwear.

In our first visit.

At the beginning of June, the Bata Children´s Program visited the Teenage Offenders Center by invitation of the SEDEGES (Government office for children and teenagers in Cochabamba). At that time the scenario was disheartening. Halls and rooms were dark and the situation of the teenage boys and girls was depressing.

That day, we discussed an agreement with the government office for a joint work and support in favor of these boys and girls.

Three weeks later, in our second visit.

Three weeks later and for our joy, we found active boys and girls willing to change their fate and to become women and men of good. Rooms were painted by the kids. They had Bible passages on them showing their hope and repentance. SEDEGES had fulfilled their part.

From our side and after a “Winter Clothing Collection Campaign”, the Bata Children´s Program visited them again. The message was:”We believe in second chances, especially for our children and teenagers”.

Thongs, Socks and under wear were prepared for these kids.

Boys and girls received gratefully new thongs, socks and underwear. They also received pants, sweaters, shirts and t-shirts all of this new or in good conditions. Then, we shared a simple but nice lunch.

We would like to thank BCP Volunteers, Bata Bolivia Personnel and friends that supported this BCP initiative to provide this boys and girls a vote of confidence and esteem.

Part of the girls with their presents, happy.

The group of boys with their presents.

Nuestra primera visita. Antes del cambio.

A principios del mes de Junio, el Bata Children´s Program visitó el centro de infractores adolescentes de Cochabamba. En aquella ocasión el panorama fue muy desalentador. Los salones y habitaciones en general eran oscuros y ófricos y las condiciones de los muchachos eran deprimentes. A partir de ello, se conversó con el SEDEGES (Institución Gubernamental de Ayuda a Niños y Adolescentes) un proyecto de servicio y apoyo conjuntos a éstos jovencitos.

Posterior al cambio los muros cambiaron. "Una vida con propósito en las manos de Dios".

Tres semanas después y para nuestra alegría, nos encontramos con muchachos activos y deseosos de cambiar su suerte y convertirse en hombres y mujeres de bien. Los ambientes habían sido re-pintados por los mismos muchachos. Tenían murales con pasajes bíblicos, demostrando esperanza y arrepentimiento. Todo como parte del apoyo que debía brindar la contraparte, el SEDEGES.

Los muchachos con sus regalos.

Por nuestra parte y luego de desarrollar una nueva campaña de recolección de ropa de abrigo,  el Bata Children´s Program los visitó nuevamente y con un mensaje: “Creemos en segundas oportunidades, en especial para nuestros niños y adolescentes”.

Jhonatan y santiago, con parte de lo donado.

Los muchachos, recibieron agradecidos nuevas sandalias de baño, medias de abrigo y ropa interior. Además cada uno recibió una dotación de pantalones, chompas, camisas y poleras; todo nuevo o en buen estado. el evento finalizó con un almuerzo sencillo pero lleno de cariño. Agradecemos a los voluntarios del BCP, personal de Bata Bolivia y amigos solidarios que apoyaron  al Bata Children´s Program en ésta iniciativa para brindarle a éstos muchachos un voto de confianza y aprecio.

El día de la entrega de los presentes, con paredes más luminosas.

BCP Pakistan arranged a factory visit at Batapur for 87 underprivileged children studying in different schools in the city.

These children, between 5 – 14 years of age, were either orphans or having single parent – belonging to the families of brick layers, mesons, street hawkers or daily wagers – that class of the society where education is a dream for their children.

This activity was organized with the help of three volunteers (spending about 20 hours) in collaboration with “SAVE – the Deserving Children” – a non-profit organization with the mission to improve the lives of the less privileged children. They are providing educational facilities to the deserving children at their nearest schools by providing their educational expenses.

On their arrival, the children started with a guided tour of our manufacturing workshops, familiarizing them about our work, products and a chance to know how shoes are made. The children were very much excited to see this all as this was the first time in their life to watch closely the entire process of shoe production in a big factory. They not only observed the operations but also put a lot of questions to clear their concepts.

After the tour, they were briefed about the history and working methods of Bata Pakistan. They were also explained about Bata Children’s Program and its world-wide initiatives.

Managing Director of Bata Pakistan, Mr. M. Imran Malik and Head of H.R Mr. Muhammad Rashid also joined the session and spent time with the children and advised them to continue their education at any cost in order to give a positive change to their life to become a respectable & responsible citizen of the society.

In the end, Mr. Imran Malik gifted 87 pairs of shoes to the children as a gesture to memorize them the day spent with Bata Children’s Program Pakistan.

The joy of all the children was immense while receiving their new shoes.

“The House of Women” is an institution that welcomes women who have been victims of severe domestic violence. In this house, women and their children are protected against the aggressors (husbands or cohabitants) until they are trained in different skills and can be financially independent.

The sweet Jazmin, waiting to receive her new pair of shoes.

Unfortunately, the mothers that have been taken to this shelter are, too frequently, in need of running away from home with the clothes they have on and with their children in their arms, since this violence is suffered also by them; so these children have only a few clothes and a pair of shoes in the best scenario.

Children received the Bata Children´s Program donation in their own hands.

Aware of this situation, the Bata Children´s Program donated to these 22 children, which are between 6 months and 12 years old, Bubble Gummers and Manaco – Bata footwear. Their joy was immense while receiving a new pair of shoes that in many cases resulted to be the only ones.

Also, and willing to improve their situation, children also received toys, stuffed animals and clothes collected during the “Holy Week Clothing Collection Campaign”, when people of the company took that time to look for clothes that were new or in good conditions to donate through the Bata Children´s Program.

Eveybody was proud to show their new Bata shoes.

Thank you very much Manaco – Bata people for donating and for such a great heart!