EMPOWERMENT
Our work is only complete when every individual within the communities we serve, and the communities as a whole, are empowered to transform their lives and reach their full potential.
Therefore, one of our priorities is to educate, build capacity, and give people the tools to uplift themselves and their communities.
Seed distribution
Seed distribution to support the Prime Minister’s campaign to use barren land for production is an initiative of APDS, where all the borrowers of the organisation received seeds so that they could grow their vegetables in unused land adjacent to their homes or rooftops to maximise food production.
Scholarship
Scholarships are offered to meritorious students from the char (river island) communities under the Bangabandhu Scholarship Scheme. In 2022, APDS started assisting financially challenged but meritorious students in gaining admission to public universities/institutions from its surplus. Last year, three students received this need-based scholarship. These three scholarship recipients, enrolled in MBBS, Textile Engineering, and Geography and Environmental Science programmes. We have a plan to support more students in the future.
Water tank distribution
This project is aimed to enable salinity-affected people of Shaymnagar subdistrict of Satkhira district collect rainwater. In total, six tanks were distributed to the people of Shyamnagar, a salinity-prone area, to enable them to collect rainwater for drinking and agricultural use as well.
Distribution of vermicompost to support safe food campaign
APDS distributes vermicompost to support the Safe Food campaign. Last year, we distributed three tons of vermicompost for homestead vegetable gardening. APDS actively advocates for increased use of vermicompost as part of a campaign for safe food and increasing land fertility.
Tree plantation to support the green movement
Trees and plants have a crucial role to play in protecting and preserving the environment. It purifies the air, conserves water, and helps in climate control. APDS took it as a mission to raise awareness among its members about the importance of planting trees as a means of living in and preserving a safer environment.
We truly believe that small individual efforts by our members can potentially create a big impact on the environment as a whole. In 2022, we managed to plant 3,400 trees. APDS will continue this effort in the years to come.
Financial literacy
As many as 150 sessions were organised in 14 branches offering financial literacy for group leaders, where two members from each group participated in each session. The sessions were on family budgeting, the importance of savings, and identifying the priority of expenditure. These sessions seemed to have a positive impact on members’ savings.
We recorded 69% growth in savings balance in 2022 and 2023. The initiative was funded by ADA, Luxembourg.