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fhcanada.org 1Thank YouYour faithful support is helping families grow their own food, access education, and build a brighter future together. You’re walking alongside real transformation. Thank you.Your partnership is fueling lasting change in families, schools, neighbourhoods, churches, and entire communities. Thank you for joining the journey to end poverty—one community at a time.Bangladesh UKHIA Mid-Year Community Update 2025After four years of partnership with Ukhia, signs of transformation are sprouting everywhere we look! Young children are beginning their education journeys strong and laying foundations of learning and creativity thanks to new Early Childhood Development Centres. Secondary school students are building self-condence through interactive competitions that increase their school engagement. Servant leadership is also taking root among local leaders, as they express care for the most vulnerable in their communities. And, in the face of Ukhia’s vulnerability to climate changes, FH is equipping sta, leaders, and volunteers to ensure their communities are safe and resilient for whatever lies ahead.Ukhia is also banding together against child marriage and implementing the Child Marriage No More project, after success in Char Borobila! The project is being tailored to the communities, ensuring that messages resonate with families and leaders and identifying root causes specic to Ukhia. Meanwhile, Ukhia welcomed a new community, Rajarkul, into partnership with Food for the Hungry! To build relationships and introduce the child sponsorship program, FH hosted meetings with community members, guardians, and teachers. Local leaders received training, equipping them to own their community’s transformation.POPULATION50,000HOUSEHOLDS15,470PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS 1,249Written by Faruk Ahmed, AHM Kamaruzzaman FH Bangladesh Prepared by FH Canada4 COMMUNITIESSince joining the Community Development Committee meetings, I have been involved in numerous community service activities to support vulnerable individuals. I kindly ask for your prayers so that we may continue living in unity and harmony within our community.— Muhammad, Community Development Committee Leader, HoldiapalongWalking with Ukhia20322021 Message

fhcanada.org 2Free to be a child againStory and photographs collected by Aldrin Hawee and Mukta Rani, FH BangladeshAt just eight years old, Fatema has big dreams—she wants to end child marriage and help her community thrive. “I dream of helping the vulnerable in my community,” she says.But Fatema wasn’t always so bold. Her family was stuck in the cycle of poverty and social isolation. Her mother, Diljar, had once dreamed of becoming a teacher but was forced into marriage at just 15 years-old. Without skills to earn an income to supplement her husband’s low wages, they couldn’t make ends meet. They were malnourished, discouraged, and rejected by their community.It was a heavy burden for a young girl. Fatema lost interest in school, too afraid to play with other kids. The whole family felt inferior and overwhelmed.Then, in 2022, Fatema joined FH’s child sponsorship program. She received health checkups, school supplies, and a backpack—tools to help her succeed. Her condence bloomed. She began dancing, reading, writing, and even won rst place in her school dance competition! Her mother too became a Cascade Group Volunteer, learning about health, nutrition, and hygiene. She started growing vegetables in her home garden and sharing what she learned with other mothers. Volunteering built her condence and sharpened her leadership skills—she’s now seen as a leader in her community.This shift at home even inspired her husband to nd a new job and earn a steady income. Now, Diljar supplements their income by sewing and selling vegetables. Their family is healthy, strong, and connected to their community.Today, Fatema is a bright third-grade student. Her condent smile says it all—her childhood is restored. She’s free to be a child who loves to dance and draw, and who dreams of a bright tomorrow.From the CommunityToday, Fatema is a bright third-grade student. Her condent smile says it all—her childhood is restored.

fhcanada.org 3Nurturing Learners from the StartUkhia is laying a strong foundation for learning! Children in Ukhia are becoming creative, diligent young learners thanks to new education centres. Four new Early Childhood Development Centres—bringing the total to 12 across Ukhia—are supporting 300 children’s growth and learning. These centres provide supportive spaces that nurture both mental and physical well-being. Each centre was stocked with educational materials like alphabet and number charts, chalkboards, coloured pencils, and more! FH also equipped 904 sponsor children with school supplies, such as exercise books, pens, and pencils. Older students, too, are nurturing self-condence through school reading and essay-writing competitions—an interactive way to put their skills to the test!Ukhia Unites Against Child MarriageAfter the success of the Child Marriage No More project in Char Borobila, Ukhia is taking up the ght against child marriage! The project launched with a design workshop to ensure it’s tailored to the local context. A community launch followed the workshop, attended by 25 participants—including government ocials—who expressed strong support and pledged collaboration. Then, on March 10, over 100 people gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day, emphasizing women’s empowerment and their vital role in family and community life. While the project is o to a strong start, challenges remain including diculty engaging men with busy work schedules. FH will continue working to nd creative solutions!new Early Childhood Development Centres established, for a total of 12!4students participated in a secondary school book reading competition150sponsor children received school supplies, including exercise books, pens, and pencils904Shayma and her friends play and learn together at one of Ukhia’s new Early Childhood Development Centres—building brains, condence, and community!Education & Ending Child MarriageMy son (four-years-old) now eagerly attends the Early Childhood Development Centre (ECDC) every day, where he is learning drawing, home decoration, rhymes, and more. He has also begun to recognize numbers and can identify several Bangla and English alphabets… Like myself, all the guardians are extremely pleased to have access to ECDC so close to home. I am deeply grateful!—Jannatul, mother, Khuniapalongstudents across three communities participated in a secondary school essay writing competition180

4Fostering Servant LeadershipServant leadership—one of Ukhia’s goals for self-sustainability—is spreading among community leaders! Leaders are demonstrating generosity and acts of kindness towards the vulnerable in their communities, thanks to leadership training. Rajarkul, a new partner community in Ukhia, formed seven Community Development Committees, and 49 new leaders received two-day leadership training. Across all four communities, volunteers and leaders continue to meet regularly to plan for their communities’ development and track their progress.Building strength to face a changing climateUkhia’s coastal location leaves it vulnerable to climate-related disasters. In response, FH is equipping communities to better prepare and recover. After assessing which villages are most at risk, FH helped form disaster volunteer groups trained in crisis management. These groups meet quarterly to build plans and strengthen response skills. FH sta also received training on climate change’s impact on health, gender, livelihoods, and agriculture, then raised awareness among students, ocials, and local leaders during a Disaster Risk Reduction Day event. These combined eorts aim to build community resilience and ensure Ukhia is better prepared for future storms.disaster volunteer groups formed3streetlights installed across Ukhia to increase safety in low-lit areas11Community Development Committees established in the new community and all leaders attended two-day leadership training7Disaster volunteer teams in Ukhia gear up with crisis management training to help their communities face future climate-related disasters!Leadership@fhcanada @foodforthehungrycanada @fh-canadafhcanada.org/storiesFollow your impact all year long.