Story
Dear supporters,
As we come into June we are already half way through the year, the sun is shining, birds singing and garden waiting to be watered!
It seems like a blink of since we came out of winter when all our activities including Seeds Of Growth were curtailed by sickness, ill health short days and long nights.
Now fundraising is very much on our minds as it is approximately six months until it is time for Project 2024. Even though we did not do Project 2023 in person, we have continued to help various people both in Birahimpur and the surrounding villages as their needs arose.
We now appeal once more for your support to make Project 2024 possible with your generous donations.
Huge thank you to all who generously supported this appeal and all our previous appeals.
With our gratitude and much appreciation.
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I am sure that everybody has seen on the international news the devastation the recent monsoon has caused, the worst in decades. The city of Sylhet has had rivers of water tearing through its streets taking or destroying everything in its wake.
The whole region of South Surma is like a vast lake and of course Birahimpur (a village we've previous done a lot of work in) did not escape this tragedy. There have been many homes and lives lost. Thousands taking shelter where they can in schools and Mosques with volunteers trying to get food and water to all who are isolated but there is a shortage of boats to use for distribution. Infection is on the rise from the dirty water that they are constantly walking in both inside and out!!

Ponds like this throughout the villages are shared with people, animals, birds, reptiles. It is hard to believe the people are still drinking from this water as well
Birahimpur is no exception to the changing world, thankfully no Covid cases in the village.
Many of the requests to Seeds Of Growth were very different along with the usual requests for roof repairs and as always sanitation was high on the list.
There were more emphases on what would appear to be smaller jobs such as replacement doors and windows. While they may seem smaller in monetary terms there cost can be as much as replacing a roof as they are very labour intensive to plane and prepare the rough wood.
I think the change in requests is a reflection of the amount of work that we have already achieved in previous Projects with more secure houses, clean water and sanitation available.
having said that we must never assume that this has solved all their problems, there is still no work for the majority of men both skilled and un-skilled forced immigration leaving whole villages without husbands, fathers, brothers to care for their families. The women work very hard to maintain family life, some working for as little as 1000 taka a month the equivalent of £10 which would not even cover their food.
From this:

This existing toilet served four brothers and their families which needless to stay was inadequate
To this:

Let's hope they are enjoying the change that we provided.

This is our price guide for donations over our time in South Surma and particularly in the village of Birahimpur like ever place else, the prices continue to increase on a yearly basis. This year showing the biggest jump by approximately an average of 20% which of course is not equal to a change of their income. Making life even more difficult.