Learning Structures, building lives

Tell me what you want to be when you graduate? asked Prof. Dr. M.R. Kabir to one of his students at Civil Engineering Department of University of Asia Pacific. A politician was the firm and confident answer of Seraj, the student who was asked. That sounds interesting. Why do you want to go to politics after completing engineering school? asked a more curious and amazed Dr. Kabir. I would like to serve the people, Seraj answered.

The students of CE department of the University of Asia Pacific have been organizing preschool education for slum children since July 2009. Three batches of students have already graduated from the program and the

I believe we can serve people better in other ways, cant we? provoked Dr. Kabir The story behind setting up the Sholpo Meyadi Shishu Shikkha Karjokrom(SMSSK) or the pre-school project for needy children started in this fashion. Prof. Dr. M.R. Kabir, Acting Vice Chancellor and Head of the Department, Department of Civil Engineering at University of Asia Pacific geared the exuberance of his promising civil engineering students who wanted to serve the community into a meaningful project. Students of the civil engineering department initiated the project with a view of supporting and assisting slum children with basic education (pre-school) and etiquettes, free of cost. Students are involved in the total process of visiting the slums, identifying the target recipients, bringing them to the UAP campus (where they would get free food and attend classes taken by the students of Civil Engineering) for edutainment. Students of the Sholpo Meyadi Shishu Shikkha Karjokrom are also taken out to study tours or leisure trips for recreation. Students of Civil Engineering department of UAP act voluntarily for this noble cause, setting example and leading the way to follow for others. The fund for the project has been sponsored by Prof. Dr. M.R. Kabir as it started. Later on, Prof. Tarek Uddin , Dr. Itekhar Anam and Mr. Fateh Azam, of Civil Engineering faculty at UAP joined the cause. Students conduct the classes of the Sholpo Meyadi Shishu Shikkha Karjokrom in the evening, after their regular classes. It was very tough to get the first batch of students. We then invited the parents of the children to have a look at what we do. said one student volunteer to the project. However, scenarios changed a few days later. The parents of the children were delighted to see their kids in uniforms, getting ready for school.

Once a batch is formed, children are taught the basics of manners and etiquette while at the same time their basic good habits are developed. They are given soaps, toothpaste for their cleaning and brushing. They are taught English, Bengali and Maths that would prepare them for getting admitted into the mainstream primary schools. The students are provided with snacks as they come to the classes. They also enjoy cartoon and kids movie show arranged by their teachers. The three month long course prepares the children to be able to streamline with other students who would be preparing themselves for the primary school admission. This whole process is absolutely free of charge. The SMSSK graduates are then admitted to the primary schools in their neighborhood and monitored of their progress by the Civil Engineering students. Last winter, the children were provided with winter clothes and Dr. Kabir himself went out with his students to distribute the clothes among the students of SMSSK. Graduating students of the SMSSK are given formal farewell where students and their parents express their views about the program. Parents of the children unanimously thanked the concerned students and faculty members of the Civil Engineering department for their efforts to bring drastic changes to their kids lives. Students of SMSSK are also taken out on excursions and leisure trips for every batch. The last batch went to Shishu Park for a leisure trip. If there is any major religious festival like Eid, the children are provided with Eid gifts to enjoy the day joyfully. While the students of the Civil Engineering department continue to learn new methods and techniques of building strong and reliable structures with concrete, they carry on the efforts to contribute and enlighten themselves and the community with activities like SMSSK. Teachers of this splendid effort are: 1. Md. Naim Hossain 2. Md. Asadujjaman 3. Md. Mijanur Rahman 4. Md. Serajul Islam 5. Md. Mehrab Zahir Tohfa 6. Ms. Nusrat Jahan 7. Md. Mamun Abdulla al 9. Ms. Sanjida Alam 10. Md. Arifur Rahman 11. A.K.M. Haque Momiunl

12. Ms .Sumona Akther

8. Md. Merajus Salikin