DoPeace.org

Majahe Learning Center, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Supervisor: Meinrad Lembuka

July 16, 2024
Blog 11: Penultimate Day in Bangladesh
My 15th Visit to Bangladesh
By Shahid Ahmed

Ten years of my visit to Bangladesh may seem like a long time, but the journey from a child's birth to maturity requires even more. Beyond just time, a child needs close attention during their growing years. Raising a child to become a responsible individual demands an investment of time and resources, but most importantly, considerable love and affection.

At DoPeace, we have a deep understanding of this essential need. When a student walks into the classroom, they are greeted warmly and given the love and attention that are integral to the teaching process. Over the six years that students are part of DoPeace, the bond between student and teacher strengthens significantly.

The progress they have shown during this visit has been stunning. As a result, our children are in the upper percentile academically. Many of our students hold the top three positions in their classes, achieving this despite facing numerous obstacles.

Our major initiative to systematically motivate students and make them proficient in English conversation has now matured after two years of a pilot project. This initiative is now rolled out to 40% of our students in grades six to twelve, and this percentage will grow in 2024. The remaining 60% of the students are still deserving and are those who cannot afford to acquire these skills on their own resources.

I am very hopeful that our students will continue to go to college, year after year, and achieve their dream of higher education.

July 9, 2023
Blog 6: The DoPeace Ecosystem
My 15th Visit to Bangladesh
By Shahid Ahmed

Achieving worthwhile goals requires more than dedication and hard work — it also requires an ecosystem that fosters unity, humor, and fun.

We can’t simply drain ourselves with seriousness and lofty visions. We need to tread lightly. We need to connect with each other with humor and lightheartedness. Above all, under all circumstances, we need to take ego out of the equation — as ego is the death knell to any success.

That is our underlying theme at DoPeace. On a daily basis, there are activities that create friction. We want accountability and progress. There are unannounced physical visits to the classroom by the DoPeace monitoring staff. Each visit is documented and reviewed by the DoPeace country representative. Any irregularities are passed along to the supervisor, who consults with the teacher in question.

Then there is the monthly visits by the DoPeace country representative, which is quite intense. Random students are checked for the progress intended in the curriculum. A report is then created that documents the details and ranks each DoPeace Learning Center.

It can be quite testy — and that’s where we need to take out the personality and hone in on the broader vision we have all agreed upon — that is, preparing our students for high achievement against all odds — and we are dead serious about that.

We meet, sing, dance, and pull each other’s legs. We don’t pull ranks, and egos are checked out.

I saw this in action last night after our semi-annual meeting at Parbatipur (located in Dinajpur, Bangladesh), when Dewan Wask, DoPeace’s country representative, presented his outcome report after visits to the six Learning Centers of PLSKS. In spite of all the levity we had before the meeting — with non-stop songs, dance, and music for one hour — the report was partly incriminating. After much discussion, PLSKS’ executive director accepted our view that they have made tremendous progress compared to the last visit, but much work remains to be done.

The organizational ecosystem must be based on levity and humor. Even when we take the work seriously, we don’t take ourselves seriously.

July 8, 2023
Blog 5: Multi-prong Effort
My 15th Visit to Bangladesh
By Shahid Ahmed

The purpose of DoPeace is to help children in the slums succeed through education. This is accomplished using a multi-pronged effort:

1. Implementing the DoPeace educational model: This includes strong preschool education and establishing one-room schools in the heart of the slums. No admission tests are required.
2. Admitting students to primary schools. We ensure students are enrolled in nearby primary schools in grade one.
3. Providing afterschool coaching: To prevent dropouts, we offer coaching up to grade five.
4. Creating a safe and nurturing environment: We ensure that students feel recognized and welcomed in the classroom, fostering psychological well-being at all times.
5. Offering regular motivational lectures: Throughout their six-year tenure at DoPeace, students receive motivational lectures that equip them with skills for high achievement. They learn about successful figures from history and their communities. They set goals, and envision pathways to success.
6. Memorizing and reciting the DoPeace oath: Students start each day by reciting the oath, keeping their vision and responsibilities at the forefront.

We are not just schools where children read and write. The four walls of the classroom are a magical place where children are transported to a world full of possibilities.