During the short time I spent growing up in Dhaka I always assumed the street kids would roam the streets by day (collecting money) and return to their families in the evening. The harsh reality never occurred to me that these kids had no family as they were abandoned due to poverty, or kidnapped for trafficking and spend the nights sleeping beside railway stations, road sides or huddling under a bridge for shelter.

I will be spending the month of December working with the most vulnerable & less fortunate street kids in Bangladesh. Engaging with them through Leedo’s well-established programs i.e. mobile schools and transitional shelters; in an attempt to gain their trust and place them in safe environments created by the Leedo foundation since 1989.

I will also be supporting the family reintegration program currently being implemented which aims to re-unite children kidnapped for trafficking with their families.

My Nana (grandfather) grew up as an orphan through a lot of struggle, hardship and always craved the love of the parents he lost at a very young age. Though he is no longer with us I would like to raise money in his memory, as I know what supporting this cause would have meant to him and his childhood.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said;
‘’Make the orphan come close to you, and be nice to him, and wipe his head, and feed him from your food. That will cause your heart to be soft and your needs be fulfilled’’.

If you feel this cause is something worth donating to then please do, as every penny will make a difference to their lives.