Our partnership with Carers Worldwide comes following a successful pilot of the programme involving 502 carers in Savar, Bangladesh. Using match-funded grants of £94,027 awarded by the Foundation and the Rangoonwala Foundation, the project will implement all five elements of the ‘Carers Worldwide Model’:
Carers Groups
Carers Worldwide will continue its 25 existing local-level Carers Groups and set up 25 new groups so carers can form friendships whilst providing emotional support and practical advice to one another
Health Services
Carers Worldwide will train barefoot counsellors to address the emotional and mental health needs of carers; hold health camps to address the health needs of carers and those they care for; and sensitise public health workers and its partner staff to promote the health and wellbeing of carers
Education, Livelihood and Training:
Carers Worldwide will enable 425 carers to launch their own income-generating activities which can coincide with caring responsibilities and help to lift households out of poverty
Respite & Short Breaks
Carers Worldwide will operate 4 Community Caring Centres which will provide alternative day care solutions for up to 60 children with disabilities and give their carers an opportunity for a break from caring
Advocacy
Carers Worldwide will form advocacy groups, including the first National Alliance of Carers in Bangladesh, and train members to advocate on behalf of carers and their families. They will also hold a series of workshops and seminars to raise awareness of the carers’ issue among the wider community
This project will be particularly welcomed by carers in Savar as part of the COVID-19 recovery phase. During COVID-19, among the 502 carers they were working with through the pilot work, they found that 90% of carers in Savar reported an increase in stress and anxiety, and that 100% reported a reduction in household income.
By the end of this project, we expect that the project activities will result in the following changes for carers and their families:
- 85% of carers regularly attending local-level carers group meetings and receiving practical and emotional support
- 75% of households living above the poverty line
- 70% of carers reporting improved physical and/or mental health
- 40% of carers expressing confidence to advocate for their needs with Government representatives
“After successfully demonstrating through our pilot work that our approach can be implemented within Bangladesh, I am delighted to have the opportunity to further strengthen our impact through this latest project. The launch of this project comes at a critical time. Carers and their families have been particularly hard-hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and this project gives us an opportunity to create a fairer society for carers as part of the COVID-19 recovery. I would like to thank CareTech Foundation and Rangoonwala Foundation for recognising the importance of carers and the need to support carers.”
