October 24, 2001
Bangladesh Center – in the eyes of a dreamer
We are witnessing history being made in Houston in front of our eyes while a piece of land is being purchased to build our dream - Bangladesh Center. The cost of the land is around $140,000.00 and we only raised $70,000.00. Some people have raised concern saying how we will raise the balance of $70,000.00. Some even went a step ahead saying if raising $70,000.00 exhausts us, how will we ever build the “building” that may cost us nearly $250,000.00 or more.
And that is exactly the word I would like to draw your attention to – “the building”. Let us ask us, is Bangladesh Center just a building and a set of social services based on a building? Or is it a venue, a showcase of our cultural and social activities, a venue through which we show our pride, our culture, our Bangladesh.
Even though some options were discussed that can be implemented before “a building” can be erected, no serious business plan was published or no proposal was made available to the ad-hoc committee.
I will attempt to shift your focus from “the building” to “something else”. This something else could be the beginning of a new era in our community development. It’s appeal is perpetual and will continuously grow as years pass by. Our very own Moni Bhai taught us how to think the center as a process. That word, process sparked the idea that I am about to propose.
Let us think the Bangladesh center as an icon of unity, an icon to portray how rich our culture is. If we can accept the center as the “center” of our activities and can pause for a moment to visualize how we can accomplish that, we will see a whole different scenario. Soon we will find out that we are not talking about how to raise funds, erect buildings or forming committees, we will find ourselves in the middle of discussion on how to complete projects or discussing which project should we do first.
One of the main reasons for building the center is to make our children attracted to Bangladesh and it’s culture. If we concentrate on building a building where we, the adults organize programs (that the children don’t enjoy much) and have parties serving pizzas for the kids, how will they love the Bangladeshi culture? Perhaps we need to look deep inside ourselves to seek ways to show our love for Bangladesh. Perhaps we need to paint the memories that we are so fond off to our kids, so that they fall in love with Bangladesh as well. We have to love the Bangladeshi culture first, and then our children will have respect for Bangladesh. Each of us cherishes so many memories in our heart about Bangladesh and we sometime loose ourselves in walking down the memory lane. Those are the very memories we need to bring out to real life and share with our children so that they can also share the joy and pride with us.
But how do we do that? How do we involve the kids of today to do something that will teach them the proud history of Bangladesh? How do we make sure that the children take active role and proactive approach to come forward? How do we blend-in the Bangladeshi culture with the educational system that they are accustomed with?
Following are some of the ideas that will get the children involved physically, mentally and emotionally and in the process they will feel proud and silently fall in love with a far away beautiful country called Bangladesh. It is our responsibility to show them how great Bangladesh is and how they can be proud of their ancestors even being an American.
If we can develop the following then we don’t have to worry about building a building or depending on weekly door-to-door request for donation. The land itself will be generating enough money to be self-sufficient.
Please allow me to take you to a ride in the future Bangladesh Center.
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Name : Summer Camp
Target Audience : Children age 4-15
Land requirement : Approximately 1 acre
Description : Children of our community seldom participates in outdoor camping which significantly helps in shape the minds of young children and helps build a sense of responsibility. A summer camp can be built
in the center for our children. In the summer children can spend a
week or two there to have adventure and learn to love the nature.
Small children can spend all day and children can stay overnight.
Just like a Jamboree or Moot, the days will be filled with activities
and fun while teaching them manners, characters, friendship and
respect. This can be a joint project with the local boy scouts and
girls guides.
Estimated cost : $10,000.00 (first phase).
Source of fund : Corporate donation, city funding, state funding
Time to complete : One year (continuously develop by the participants)
Management : Managed by volunteers with one paid professional.
Expected revenue : $200.00 per student per week.
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Name : Bangladesh Independence Trail
Target Audience : Children age 6-12
Land requirement : Approximately 1/4 acre
Description : A hiking trail will be built to depict the path of independence of
Bangladesh from 1952 to 1971. There will be small replica of
Shahid Minar, national monument, replica of fighting scene by
freedom fighters in 1971 etc. to teach the young children how
Bangladesh won its independence. If we can create this, it can be
opened by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. It marketed properly
it can also be a place of interest for Bangladeshi coming to
Houston.
Estimated cost : $10,000.00 (first phase).
Source of fund : Donation
Time to complete : One year (continuously develop by the participants)
Management : Managed by volunteers with one paid professional.
Expected revenue : $3.00 per person.
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Name : Texas Independence Trail
Target Audience : Children age 6-12
Land requirement : Approximately 1/4 acre
Description : A hiking trail will be built with small replica of the significant
locations/events like Alamo, San Jacinto Battle Ground etc. to
teach the young children how Texas became independent. We
can jointly work with the State and perhaps a school to design and
implement this project. Having the Texas Independence trail next
to Bangladesh Independence Trail will show that we, the
Bangladeshis are freedom loving people.
Estimated cost : $10,000.00 (first phase).
Source of fund : Corporate donation, city funding, state funding
Time to complete : One Year (continuously develop by the participants)
Management : Managed by volunteers with one paid professional.
Expected revenue : $3.00 per person.
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Name : Little Bangladesh
Target Audience : All Age
Land requirement : Approximately 1/4 acre
Description : Ten display areas will be developed to depict the life style of
Bangladeshis. These will be life size replica. For instance, a land
where farmers (models) are working, a river where a boat is
carrying paddy, a hill showing the hill tracks people like Chakma, a
city showing cars and Rickshaw. The highlight of this project will
be live demonstration of Bangladeshi life on selected weekends
where actual people will be present doing things that a rural
Bangladeshi person would do. Food stalls will be there serving
authentic Bangladeshi foods on those weekends.
Estimated cost : $20,000.00 (first phase).
Source of fund : Corporate donation, city funding, state funding
Time to complete : Two Years (continuously develop one at a time)
Management : Managed by volunteers with one paid professional.
Expected revenue : $5.00 per person.
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Name : Growing with Pride
Target Audience : All age
Land requirement : Approximately 1 acre
Description : One acre land will be cultivated with vegetables that are popular
among the Bangladeshis. Volunteers will give their time to
cultivate and then the vegetable will be packaged and sold in
different grocery stores as well as from the location. Community
members will be encouraged to buy these vegetables as the
profits will be used to fund the center activities. Community will
then get fresh vegetables which they buy anyway and will feel
attached to the center. Flowering plants can also be grown along
with vegetables.
Estimated cost : $5,000.00 (first phase).
Source of fund : Community donation (it can also be invested from individuals who
will recover their money with no interest at the first available
opportunity.)
Time to complete : Seasonal
Management : Two paid personnel will look after the garden and it will be
managed by one volunteer.
Expected revenue : $5,000.00 per year
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Azadul Haq