Poverty reduction by training women in Rayer Bazaar, Dhaka

A large portion of Dhaka’s population lives in slums. The people, and especially the women, of city’s Rayer Bazaar suburb have barely any access to the labour market. Lack of education means they don’t have the necessary knowledge and skills. This is where Charles Vögele’s work with Swisscontact comes in: poverty reduction through education.

Since the project began in 2005, it has trained 1 026 people in cutting, sewing, knitting and printing techniques. Nearly everyone who has done the six-month training course has gone on to make a decent living by getting a job or building up their own business. All of them are also given the skills they need to apply for work at Charles Vögele’s supplier companies.

Health project in Kamrangir Char, Dhaka

In Bangladesh a lot of sickness is caused by lack of hygiene. This is usually either because people don’t know enough about hygiene, or because there is inadequate
access to clean drinking water and sanitary equipment. Poor air quality and generally unhealthy living conditions are also serious problems. The Swisscontact health project that Charles Vögele is supporting gave 31 000 slum dwellers in Dhaka access to cheap medical care in 2010. As well as general treatment and prevention of illness, particular emphasis is put on healthcare for mothers and children. The project also encompasses various health awareness and health education campaigns.