Bangladesh Projects
Background
In mid 2011, the Bangalhalia Agapara Buddhist Welfare Orphanage (BABWO) faced a food crisis in feeding the 120 children under their care due to limited aid from the local government and irregular support from donors. The BABWO Volunteer Charity Adviser, Bro Mong Mong Thun Marma approached Firefly Mission.
Two FFM volunteers visited BABWO in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh in July 2011 and discovered that the food crisis was critical. On behalf of FFM, they made a donation to enable BABWO to continue to feed the 120 children for the next six months. Further visits were made by FFM volunteers in February 2012 and January 2013 and a number of projects have since been implemented in support of the minority Buddhist community in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Bangalhalia Agapara Buddhist Welfare Orphanage (BABWO)
Our Mission Focus is on
Education
-
BABWO Dormitory Extension Construction Project
-
Construction of Residential Junior High School
-
Bangladesh Children Sponsorship Programme
-
School Uniforms & Stationery
Community Welfare
-
SSSBO Solar Lighting and Water Supply Project
-
BSG Security Fencing Project, Urgent financial support for foods and blanket and jacket
-
BTO Urgent financial support for foods, blanket and jacket
Photo Collage
Filter Project to recycle used water
In June 2025, second section of the filter project to recycle the used water donated by Firefly Mission with 99% of the building work completed. Used water will be brought into the first filtered area by pipes and then continue to the second filtered chamber where the used water will be treated with plants, grasses and bananas tress before joining back to the pond and to use anti toxic chemical to remove the toxic water.
Annual Stationary Distributions
In 2022, we have reached out to BABWO and other orphanages to provide uniforms, stationery and food donation distribution. Stationeries program now supports about 1113 children from 10 orphanages. Food assistance is extended to 5 orphanages
BABWO Children Sponsorship (on-going)
Since 2012, FFM has established a children sponsorship program and has been supporting children. The children staying in Bangalhalia Agapara Buddhist Welfare Orphanage (BABWO) are children who has lost both parents or lost 1 parent and are from very poor families. Some of the children are also part of the Sangha members.
This children sponsorship programme helps to provide food and basic essentials for the children staying at BABWO, a non-profit charity which runs a welfare home for orphans, destitute and disadvantaged children. BABWO is located in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. This area is very poor with political unrest and armed conflicts resulting in unstable living situation and displacement of people in the area. Parents often cannot afford to send their children to school and many children do not have access to education.
With FFM children sponsorship of S$360 per annum per child, the sponsorship allows the children to have 3 meals, clothes and education.
Lotus Children Home Water Crisis Project
The Home has been facing water scarcity, and the problem is worsening in 2023 summer.
Venerable Nagasena said the previous deep tube well that FFM built in 2018, has been closed because of the excessive iron content in the water.
2021 Extension of 320ft of New Drainage Works costing 980,531 BDT. Additional support with struts to strengthen the drains and cut back the vertical slope on the landslide areas near the drainage. The drain is also covered for the safety of the children.
BABWO Fan Project
With the hot summer, the children manage to repair 10 fans from the 30 deteriorated fans and need to replace 20 fans.
Fire Relief Program
A raging fire broke up in the night of 17 May 2021 and razed the homes of 70 families to ashes in Bangladesh. It was a black Monday for the Village with a total of 89 families in Talukder Para, Taracha Union, Rowanchari Sub-district, Bandarban Hill Districts. Most people are now living in the open and some took shelter in the village primary school.
Blankets distribution to 100 Bangladesh families
Firefly Mission helped to distribute blankets to the poor 100 families by Bhante and 80 BABWO children at Naikya Chara Agapara, Bangalhalia Union, Rajasthali, Rangamati Hill Districts, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
The villages were very thankful for the blankets we donated to help them combat the bitter cold. It's a difficult period for many poor families in rural area that have been severely affected by the effects of the pandemic.
Lotus Home Dining Project
The Dining Hall Project is jointly funded by Firefly Mission and Lotus Children’s Education Trust for the Lotus Children Home at Bangladesh.
BABWO Tutors’ Salaries Sponsorship
With schools operating one day in a week, Bhante Khemachara has engaged 11 tutors to conduct lessons for the children to ensure some continuity. FFM sponsored monthly financial support of BDT 55,000.00 (about SGD 916.66) for the 11 tutors’ salaries starting Oct 2021 till Feb 2022.
Boys' Dormitory at Buddha Shishu Ghar Orphanage (BSG)
Building of a 4-room boys’ dormitory for 50 boys and novices at Buddha Shishu Ghar Orphanage. It will be a one-storey 64’ x 34’ building, with a 3-storey foundation.
Cost of the project is around S$51k and is completed by Jan 2020.
Girls Hostel at the Gaindya Shishu Sadan (GSS) Orphanage
To build Girls Hostel at the Gaindya Shishu Sadan (GSS) Orphanage in Bangladesh. It is situated in Rangamati Hill District, about 77km from Chittagong.It will provide safe and clean accommodation for 37 girls who are currently living in very poor conditions, and together with 10 boys. Once the new girls hostel is built, the boys will stay in the existing dormitory, and the extra room there will be converted to dining and study area.
Total project cost is estimated at S$36,000 and construction completed Jan 2020.