Bangladesh
Epiphany Trust’s work in Bangladesh began in May 2013 with the launch of Child Action Bangladesh to help fund two outstanding and pioneering projects for children and young people.
In the past 40 years, Bangladesh has been able to cut poverty by more than half. However, despite this it remains a low-income country with substantial poverty, inequality and deprivation. At least 45 million people in Bangladesh, almost one third of the population, live below the poverty line, and a significant proportion of them live in extreme poverty. The poverty rate is highest in rural areas. Many Bangladeshis have an inadequate diet and suffer from periods of food shortage. Half of all rural children are chronically malnourished and 14 per cent suffer from acute malnutrition.
Our in-country partner ‘Tauri Foundation’ was formed in 2003 in order to help children within Bangladesh whom have disabilities. In close connection to Epiphany Trust’s ethos, Tauri Foundation’s vision is of an inclusive society that is free from abuse, exploitation and discrimination for all children irrespective of religion, ethnicity, social-economic status, gender and disability.
Within the Northern Region of Bangladesh alone, there are approximately 4 million people with special needs. The harsh reality is that outside of the work of the Tauri Foundation and similar charities/NGO’s very little is being done to support and help these individuals and many live in extreme poverty this therefore makes the work of Tauri Foundation all the more essential and the support from Epiphany Trust imperative.
The projects within Bangladesh are proving to be immensely successful and include; activities related to child rights, a special school catering for students with disabilities (90% of whom have Autism), training of staff and parents, therapeutic intervention, outreach programmes, livelihood support for poor children, rehabilitation, and counselling.
After the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Dhaka, Epiphany partnered with the Tauri Foundation sending a container of goods including disability aids and beds donated by Wigan and Leigh Hospice. Since that time and again working in association with Tauri we have financed the construction of 59 wells providing clean drinking water for remote rural areas. Local restaurateur and Newton & District Jubilee Rotary have made considerable contributions. Further wells are planned.
Wigan and Leigh Hospice have donated 15 hospital beds to the Trust. These were shipped to Chittagong in Bangladesh in autumn 2020 by Embrace Global Logistics for use in hospitals where basic health care is extremely limited. The Raj restaurant and Beehive Foundation Manchester assisted with the cost of the container.
From supporting a school for children with learning disabilities, to providing aid in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami and 2025 floods, to helping the amazing organisation with is Child Action Lanka; Epiphany has been working with the people of Sri Lanka for nearly three decades
Tauri Foundation
The Tauri Foundation was born out of the agony and determination of Ashfaque and Marufa UL Kabir who believed passionately that their disabled daughter had every right to lead a meaningful life. Today the Tauri Foundation envisions a child-friendly, rights-based and inclusive society that is free of abuse, exploitation and discrimination for all children irrespective of religion, ethnicity, socio-economic status or gender. Tauri operates schools for Gifted Children in Dhaka and Rajshahi, providing special schooling for children with Autism, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and Intellectual disabilities. It follows an effective and appropriate curriculum and the teachers design a goal plan for each student depending upon individual needs and abilities.
In addition to academic activities, the children receive therapeutic and psychological supports which help them to develop organized behaviour so that they can function effectively in daily life.
The children also participate in various extra-curricular activities such as sports, singing, dancing, reciting and acting.
A multidisciplinary staff team consisting of therapists, special needs teachers and psychologists ensure the creation of an atmosphere most favourable to the development and education of these children.