World Renew, the global relief and development agency of the Christian Reformed Church, has been awarded a five-year grant of $7,886,330 CAD from Global Affairs Canada. This funding, supplemented by a CAD 417,708 contribution from World Renew’s church and household donors, brings the total project fund to $8.3 million. The initiative will focus on supporting vulnerable youth in Bangladesh’s Dinajpur and Netrokona districts, the organisation announced on 12 March.
With a 40-year track record of collaborating with community partners on anti-poverty initiatives in Bangladesh, World Renew will implement this new programme in partnership with established People’s Institutions.
These government-registered, sustainable entities are responsible for designing, executing, and managing development initiatives. Women from local communities play a key role in these groups.
“The People’s Institution model is the key to the success of this programme,” said Gertrude Omoro, project manager for the initiative. “In the communities where World Renew operates, these institutions have driven significant social change. Women are increasingly participating in activities outside their homes, which is often uncommon. They are forming groups to explore economic opportunities, such as Village Savings and Loan Associations, and are being encouraged to start small businesses. World Renew’s long-standing work in the region was instrumental in securing this grant.”
Maggie Zeng, World Renew’s grants programme manager, explained that Global Affairs Canada selected the proposal in September 2023 after World Renew responded to a call for concepts in June. The project’s objectives focus on the prevention and empowerment of adolescents and youth, particularly in protecting girls from child, early, and forced marriage. “Our programme is centred on prevention and ensuring adolescent girls have access to vital knowledge,” Zeng said. “They are among the most vulnerable groups, as they do not fit within children’s groups or adult groups. This initiative provides them with a safe space to openly discuss reproductive health. It is a crucial stage to learn about their bodies and understand the risks they may face.”
Omoro further elaborated on the initiative’s goals, stating, “This project aims to educate and train young people on the implications of early marriage, including its effects on their health, the well-being of their children, and the family’s financial stability. We stress to parents that, out of love for their children, they should ensure young mothers are physically and emotionally prepared for parenthood. This approach enables them to complete their education and contribute positively to society. It also ensures safer childbirth experiences, fosters a healthier home environment, and ultimately leads to better overall health outcomes for families.”
The programme features a training component and enhancements to the health care system. “From a health care perspective, we will provide training for medical staff to address critical service gaps,” Omoro said. “Although the focus is on adolescents—who receive the least support within the health system—these improvements will benefit primary health care services more broadly. This includes establishing warming stations for newborns, training health care workers in nutrition counselling for mothers, and providing essential medications such as oral rehydration solutions for diarrhoea, which is prevalent in Bangladesh due to flooding, as well as treatments for malaria.”
According to World Renew’s announcement, the project is expected to directly benefit approximately 210,937 participants, with a further 450,000 community members indirectly impacted through knowledge sharing. This initiative marks another step forward in World Renew’s ongoing commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.
