In Bangladesh, four-and-a-half-year-old Amar* lives with his grandmother, as his mother and father both work away from home in Dhaka. While loved by his grandmother, Amar was lonely and missed his parents deeply. 

“He remembers how his mother used to feed and bathe him, and how he used to play with his father. Whenever these memories come to mind, he cries a lot,” shares his grandmother, who admits she also feels sad, as she is old and struggles to take care of him the way his parents would. 

Then one day, Amar’s only friend, Rafi* took him to meet a group of children, who quickly became his friends. These children didn’t just play; they also studied together. They were a class who belonged to Bible Society Bangladesh’s pre-primary literacy project. 

Their teacher, Aunty Sumi Tisha*, taught them various lessons through fun games. Amar’s grandmother shares, “He enjoyed going to Aunty’s class so much that he stopped feeling sad about his parents being away.” Amar learned to paint pictures, memorise small Bengali and English rhymes, and read simple Bible verses. He even learned to pray. Now, Amar can count from 1 to 10, recognise vowels, and a few consonants, along with other activities. After attending this centre, Amar is getting ready to enrol in a regular school. The class helped him overcome his loneliness and sadness, replacing it with joy, friends, and a sense of purpose. “Amar’s dream is to grow up to be the best he can be,” his grandmother shares, and she is determined to guide him, so that in future Amar’s children will never feel the sadness that he once felt. Amar is now at peace, happy, and filled with hope for the future. 

Rev. Krishan Pal* is thankful for these literacy classes, saying, “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Bangladesh Bible Society for implementing pre-primary education programs in the mother tongue of the community. These programs, conducted among young children in remote areas are a remarkable initiative.” Rev Pal firmly believes that through this project, children from marginalised communities will be educated in their native language and, in time, contribute to building a more educated and empowered society. 

He shares, “The children are eager and enthusiastic, actively participating in their classes. The dedication shown by the teachers is commendable, and the program has received high praise from both the parents and respected members of the community.” 

Please join with Rev Pal in praying “that God will continue to bless the Bangladesh Bible Society abundantly for their invaluable service to these communities.” 

If you would like to know more about this literacy Bible engagement project for young children in Bangladesh, you can read more and support the project here: https://www.biblesociety.org.au/projects/bangladesh-pre-primary-literacy/ 

*names changed to protect privacy