In the quiet village of Faizar Baper Para in Ratnapalong Union of Ukhiya, lived a little girl named Liza Moni affectionately called Mim by her family. At just five years old, Mim carried a burden far too heavy for her small shoulders. Her father, Jashim Uddin, a hardworking driver, had passed away unexpectedly—leaving behind not only grief and economic hardship but also an unfulfilled dream: to educate his daughter and give her a better future.
While Mim’s older brother continued his studies in grade three, Mim refused to set foot in school. Every time her mother, Swapna Akter, encouraged her to join her brother, Mim responded with tears, anxiety, and resistance. She would hide in neighbors’ houses, skip meals, or simply withdraw in fear. Her mother—overwhelmed by her own grief, household responsibilities, and financial strain—felt helpless and heartbroken, watching her daughter retreat into silence and fear.
Mim’s story might have remained untold if not for a household survey conducted under the PROTTYASHI-IRC ECW Project, designed to identify out-of-school children in the community. During the survey, I Roksana Akter Munni, an ECD Facilitator at the Tista ECD Center—visited Mim’s home. There, I met Swapna Akter, who tearfully shared her daughter’s struggles and her husband’s unfulfilled wishes. Desperate for a solution, she hoped someone could help restore Mim’s confidence.
Gently, I invited her to bring Mim to the Tista ECD Center a safe, nurturing environment built to support children like her. When Mim first arrived, she clung tightly to her mother, avoided eye contact, and stayed silent during all activities. But her mother, determined to keep trying, brought her to the center every single day.
Gradually, Mim’s transformation began.
In the company of kind facilitators and cheerful peers, Mim started to engage first by observing, then by participating in play. Within a few weeks, she joined in songs, group activities, and even responded to questions. She slowly rediscovered her voice and curiosity. A breakthrough moment came when she received a school bag from the center. Her face lit up with joy a small gesture that gave her a sense of pride and belonging. Later, when she was gifted drawing books and coloring materials, her creativity blossomed, and she began expressing herself more freely.
Her mother observed this change with wonder and gratitude.
“Without this center,” Swapna shared, “my daughter would still be left behind. Now, she goes to school happily and has learned so much. I tell other parents to enroll their children here. I pray for the success and well-being of this center.”
Today, Mim is no longer the frightened girl who once hid from school. She is confident, sociable, and eager to learn greeting her facilitator with a smile and actively participating in every activity. Her journey is not just a personal transformation it is a reflection of what inclusive, compassionate, and community-based early education can achieve.
Thanks to the ECW-funded PROTTYASHI-IRC initiative and the dedication of its facilitators, children like Mim are reclaiming their childhood, their confidence, and their future. The Tista ECD Center is more
