The youth of Bangladesh are often described as visionary which is not an overstatement at all. A number of youths led by Arif Rahman have been relentlessly pursuing the vision of a prosperous Bangladesh where there will be no child left on the streets. In Arifur’s articulation “we aspire of a Bangladesh where no child will be left on streets and they will have all their rights”.
In October 2017, Arif’s voluntary organization – Durbar Foundation got Joy Bangla Youth Award for their contribution in the society. The foundation was recognized as one of the top 10 youth-led initiatives in the country. The award is surely going to boost their morale and encourage its members dream big in near future.
Durbar was founded in 2014 to rehabilitate street children living in or around the railway station in the Comilla South Sadar region. The homeless children living around Comilla station, city and Laksham railway junction are receiving support from the Foundation. Currently, the organization is carrying out its activities with the help of more than 1,250 volunteers. The organization runs two schools which provide free educational materials, clothes and meal during the class time. Besides, they want to build two safe homes for them.
As the numbers of volunteers increased, their activities have also increased in a large scale. Now it is one of the largest active youth organizations in the district of Comilla. The foundation is showing alternative ways of earning to these street children. Almost 75 percent children are now earning through the help of the organization. Besides, Durbar plays vital role in natural calamity such as flood, earth quack, road accidents etc. Durbar has a specialized rescue team who save life during such disasters and help them during rehab. Durbar supplies blood in emergency need all over the country through thousands of voluntary blood donors.
The members of Durbar are trying their best to treat those children as a normal child, guiding them to dream for a bright future and to not to feel being let down.
