Iford & Kingston Church of England Primary School
Plan UK Sponsored Child
Iford and Kingston School have sponsored two children through an organisation called Plan UK. The two children are Atik, a boy from Bangladesh and Sandi, a girl from Bolivia.
Here are a few details about the children.
Atik
.O.B. – 1st March 2001
Language: Bangla
Religion: Muslim
Community: Chakpara Mollapara
Country: Bangladesh
Atik’s father is a labourer, born in 1970. His mother, born in 1975, is a housewife. He has a brother called Afridi who was born in 2005. Atik’s family live in a house made of mud and sticks with a corrugated iron roof. Atik does not yet go to school as he is too young. He is a healthy boy who has not had any serious illnesses.
His family have access to clean water from a borehole (similar to a well) with a hand pump in the backyard. The family has a private toilet and the nearest health facility for his family is about fifteen minutes away.
Most families in Atik’s community have an annual income of around US$250 – 300, that’s about £170 – £220 each year.
The work that Plan UK does in Atik’s community is centred around developing education opportunities for children, developing healthcare for everyone in the community and providing economic security for everyone.
Many children do not have the opportunity to go to school as both teachers and teaching materials are in short supply. Additionally, children are often needed to work alongside their parents in the fields or in the home. Only about 30% of the local people are literate.
Basic facilities are often poor and the lack of clean water and sanitation means that infection is an ever-present risk.
Although many of the families are involved in agriculture, growing crops such as rice, the men often have to leave their families to find casual work in the towns.
Follow these links to read the letters from Atik
Sandi
.O.B. – 12th January 2001
Language: Spanish
Religion: Christian
Community: Palmira
Country: Bolivia
Sandi’s father is a peasant farmer, born in 1971. Her mother, born in 1967, is a housewife. She has a sister called Bebe who was born this year. Sandi’s family live in a house made of wood with a tile and slate roof. Sandi attends a primary school which is less than 30 minutes walk from where she lives.
Sandi is a healthy girl and has not had any serious illnesses. Her family can get water all year round from a tap in the back garden. For a toilet the family use a hole in the ground, near to the house. If anyone is ill, the nearest medical centre is about 45 minutes away.
Sandi is lucky to go to school as many of the rural villages do not have one. However, even of those who do begin school, many are forc
ed to leave at around 10 -12 years of age as they are needed to perform jobs for the family on the farm. Consequently, many of the people in the area have very limited reading and writing skills.
Some of the diseases that can affect children in Sandi’s region are intestinal parasites, tuberculosis, malnutrition and respiratory diseases. One of the main areas that Plan is involved in is offering medical care and check ups to children under the age of 5. The provision of clean water facilities has also had a big impact on the health of children.
Most of the families in Sandi’s area are involved in farming and work their own plot of land to feed themselves. Very few of the families produce enough to sell at market. Crops include corn, yucca, soybean, vegetables and rice. Animals also provide meat and cheese.
Transport is by foot, on the backs of animals, or by using pick up trucks, bicycles and buses.
Follow these links to read the letters from Sandi
For more information on the work of Plan UK visit their website at www.plan-uk.org