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THE ORGANIZATION
“The Optimists” is a
self-motivated, volunteer driven US based charity
organization.
Principal head quarter is in New York and the principal branch office is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- It was founded in October 6, 2000
in New York, USA.
- It is a 501 (C) (3)
organization and contribution is tax exempt (US resident only).
- It is also registered
with good standing with the NYS “Charities Bureau.
- It is duly registered
as a NGO with its country head quarters in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- At present it is
working in Rangpur, Habiganj,
Narayanganj, Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts in Bangladesh. New
branches will be opened at Comilla, Barisal,
Laxmipur and Mymensingh
very soon.
Current
& Future Programs
Present program: 1. Child Sponsorship Program
(CSP)
Child Sponsorship Program is a charitable effort by
donors aimed at providing food, clothing,
education, tuition, books and medical care to the needy
children through the 3rd to the 12th grade.
Who
is a Child Sponsor?
Willing
donors sponsors a child in Bangladesh thus becoming a
sponsor. The sponsor’s yearly donation of $178.00, (GBP £125.00) s
utilized to support each of sponsored children through ten years of
his/her education.
Present program: 2. Disaster Relief Program
(DRP)
This is donor based program and any
donor can donate any amount of money for the benefits of the victims of
the natural disaster such as: Flood, Cyclone, Hurricane and other kinds
of natural calamities in Bangladesh. This is not a
regular program but only active at the time of such needs. We receive
or accept donation to this program year round.
Future:
We are planning following other Programs
- Tuition and text-books
for qualified poor high school student.
- Self-dependence through
income-generating training and support for qualified poor
families.
- Maternity and child
welfare program for qualified poor families.
- Job placement Program:
Computer training, English language classes for needy youths.
- Scholarship and student
loan for bachelor and higher studies for the poor and qualified
students.
WHAT DOES THE CHILD
SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM ACHIEVE?
Among other things it:
- Keeps the child out of
street.
- Saves the child from
mal-nutrition.
- Keeps the child healthy.
- Provides education.
- Saves the child from
being abused and from forced labor.
- Gives the child a hope
and a future.
Transforms a
hapless liability into a contributing asset of the nation.
IT MUST BE COSTING A
FORTUNE!
Only US 49 cents a day or $178, (GBP £125.00)
a year can totally change the future of the sponsored children.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS
PROVIDED TO THE SPONSORED CHILD?
n
Cash benefits: BD Taka
6,000.00 (primary level students) and Taka 7,200.00 (Junior and High
School level students) per year.
n
Dress and Clothing: 2 sets
per year + warm cloths.
n
Shoe and socks: 1 set and
Sandal 1 set per year.
n
School supplies:
Schoolbag, Pen, Pencil, Paper, Binders, sharpener, books etc., per
year.
n
Hygienic supplies: Soap,
tooth brush, tooth paste, nail cutter etc., per year.
n
Health checkup: regular
health checkup (4 times year) and any emergency treatment including
medication.
n
Mentoring: regular basis,
including monitoring the progress of the child
Every sponsor will receive two letters from
the sponsored child with updated photograph in a year. Sponsor can
contact, visit and write letter to the sponsored child.
Nomination of Children
under Child Sponsorship Program
- Children are
nominated from underprivileged, distressed, dispossessed and deprived families. Careful
attention also given to the vulnerable child who will likely be
involved in child labor.
- The child enrolled
in class 3 (Third grade) in a Government Primary
School are considered for nomination
only.
- Child must be a
permanent resident (domicile) of the concerned district area.
- Child must not be a
relative (close or distant) of any director or volunteer of the
organization.
First priority: An
orphan child (both parents deceased) or; father passed away, mother
married again and the child is dispossessed; or mother passed away and
father married again and the child dispossessed.
Second priority: An
orphan child (only father deceased) leading to the mother and the child
is being dispossessed. (Priority generally given to a girl child).
Third priority:
Divorced / Separated parent, father married again or is disabled either
physically or mentally leading to the mother and child are being
dispossessed. (Priority generally given to a girl child).
IS THERE ANY LIMITATIONS ON
NUMBERS OF CHILDREN A SINGLE DONOR CAN SPONSOR?
NO.
As a matter of fact, more the better.
HOW DOES A DONOR KNOW THAT
HIS DONATION IS BEING PROPERLY UTILIZED?
- The donor is provided
with full details of the sponsored child/children.
- Periodic progress
report on the sponsored child/children is provided to the sponsors.
- The sponsors may
establish direct contact with their sponsored child/children and
monitor their progress
- Annual audited report
is made available for scrutiny
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE
DONATED AMOUNT GOES TO CARRY THE MANAGEMENT COST?
NONE!
“The Optimists” is UNIQUE from the stand point that one
hundred percent donated money under our Child Sponsorship Program go to
field offices to provide benefits and services to sponsored children.
The entire organization is totally managed and run 80% by volunteers
with no fiscal remuneration and the rest is done by a few employees.
The costs of the management are funded separately by collecting other
donation and hosting yearly fund raising event.
HOW LONG HAS “THE
OPTIMISTS” BEEN IN OPERATION?
Founded
in September 20,
2000. The first field level child sponsorship project was
hosted in January 2001 with about 54 children in Moulvibazar District, Bangladesh
WHAT IS THE TRACK RECORD OF
THE OPTIMISTS?
Within
a short span of years (since September 2000), “The Optimists”,
through the spontaneous support, encouragement and tireless efforts of
the Sponsors and volunteers, has been able to successfully launch its
operation in five districts in Bangladesh benefiting 350+ children benefiting
directly 2,500 individuals so far.
DOES “THE
OPTIMISTS” HAVE ANY RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL AFFILLIATION?
NO. “The Optimists”
is neither affiliated nor oriented to any political or religious
organizations. It is founded on the basis of universal philosophy of
humanity: Help the poor, help the needy, help the helpless, help
orphans and the widows.
HOW DO “THE OPTIMISTS ” MONITOR ITS ACTIVITIES?
“The
Optimists” has 5 district offices and a Bangladesh branch office at Dhaka. There are volunteers including physicians in
all the areas that it operates. The volunteer monitor the disbursement
of the benefits, progress of the sponsored children in their schools
and their health care. The district committees of the volunteers report
their observations and assessments regularly to the Bangladesh branch office.
IS THERE ANY SALARIED
EMPLOYEES IN FIELD OFFICES
There
are one salaried Secretary cum Accountant and an Office Attendant in
all district offices and also in the Bangladesh branch office
who are responsible to maintain office records, bookkeeping and
accounting records. The Bangladesh
branch office, in turn, keeps the head quarters in USA informed and consults
with it on a regular basis.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE?
There
are 64 districts in Bangladesh.
“The Optimists” has started operating in five of them
already. With the help of the sponsors and the volunteers, “The
Optimists” expects to reach all 64 districts by 2010.
If you are child sponsor and wants to meet your child in your next trip
to Bangladesh,
please let us know before you leave or directly contact our Bangladesh branch office at Dhaka.
The Organization is run and managed by the
Board of Directors nominated by the Principal Executive Committee. If you need a list of the Board of
Directors, please contact our office.
Offices of
The Optimists
Principal Office in the United States
25-78, 31st Street
Astoria, NY
11102
Tel: 718 278 4953
Fax: 718 554 3832
Bangladesh branch office
House no: 169 (4th Fl.) Road #1
DOHS Baridhara, Dhaka 1206
Tel: 02 8840684
Cell: 01716 278886
Email: theopt6@gmail.com
Updated
on 12/09/2007
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