English - Annual Report 2001 Annual Report 2001 NETZ Partnership for Development and Justice Moritz Hensoldt Strasse 20 35576 Wetzlar, Germany Phone: ++49 (0)6441 26585 Fax: ++49 (0)6441 26257 eMail: info@bangladesch.org NETZ - Partnership for Development and Justice (NETZ) is a German NGO working for better life particularly for the poor where they can grow by themselves; and a society where there is no discrimination based on race, ethnicity, creed, culture, religion and gender. NETZ has been providing financial assistance to local, national and international NGOs operating their programmes in Bangladesh for undertaking voluntary development initiatives towards poverty reduction with especial emphasis on women empowerment. Vision: A world without hunger and injustice Mission: Poverty eradication and empowerment of the poor particularly women though a self-help approach and partnership with NGOs In 2001, NETZ extended its support for the poor and disadvantaged people in Bangladesh. NETZ largely supported self help projects targeting towards the fulfilment of people's basic needs. Likewise, the establishment of a civil society, representing the interests of the poor, was enhanced. Strengthening a unique solidarity between the people of Germany and Bangladesh, NETZ endeavours to give a voice to the poor. Cooperation with Bangladesh - to fight against poverty Self-help Within different regions of Bangladesh, 8.572 people are organised in groups, working for an improvement of their own situation and for changes within their society. 7.992 group members are women. The groups' aim is the fulfilment of basic needs like nutrition, health and education, through income generation activities, awareness raising as well as through the establishment of basic rights. The key factor for their success is a professional facilitation through the NETZ partner organisations. In selecting the partners amongst the local non governmental organisations (NGOs), NETZ first of all considers their quality of work. This means the participation of the target group, sustainability, professional standards, democratic structures and most of all their work with the poorest parts of the society. In 2001, NETZ supported the following self-help projects: Health programme: The organisation Bastob was actively involving 1.050 women and 305 men within 110 health-groups. Their biggest success was the decrease in the mortality rates of mothers and the increase of immunisations against children's diseases. Moreover income generating activities were extended. Rural development: In 2000, the work of Sampreeti to overcome poverty and to establish human rights was disrupted by influential local individuals and groups. In 2001, the situation could be consolidated and the work could continue with some of the groups. Out of 196, 148 were active and involved 4.135 members. Support of women: The development projects of Tarango included 175 women groups with 3.082 members. The groups built up an own local structure through the formation of village- and regional associations. Tarango will limit its activities on income generating activities for poor females in the future. Education The main requirement for achieving a sustainable self help process is education. NETZ therefore supports a range of education programmes on different levels: Primary education: In the schools of Bastob, Sampreeti and Sabalamby Unnayan Samity (SUS), 435 children and youth were educated through the assistance of NETZ. Ashrai has started the founding of 10 primary schools for children of ethnic minorities. Skill development: 121 adolescent girls and boys participated in vocational training within the work of SUS, Network for Research and Training and Bastob. Awareness rising: 1.708 children and adolescent met regularly to talk about health matters, about their rights and for discussing solutions for their problems. The groups were organised through the workers of Bastob and SUS. Civil society and rights In 2001, NETZ emphasised on the establishment of a civil society which enables the disadvantaged to raise their voices. This means socio political activities to enhance peoples' rights as for many of the deserted violations of their rights means a direct threat to their existence. Here, the essential thought is that societal and structural chances always have to be carried along by the people themselves. Therefore the civil society supported through NETZ, is build upon self help structures. In the year 2001, NETZ supported the following programmes of its partner organisations: Local human rights activities: Conflicts on land, dowry, polygamy, rape and divorce are a threat to the existence of many families, especially for women and their children. Madaripur Legal Aid Association and Ain O Shalish Kendro support the establishment of human rights committees in villages. The committees fight for the establishment of formal law and for the protection of the weaker conflicting parties. 4.080 people are members of the committees and have been active in 781 conflict resolutions or in delivering legal advisory services. Yet there are problems in involving a higher percentage of female members. Prevention of child marriages: SUS works with 525 girls to stop their marriage in the age of 12 to 17 years. Involving parents, political authorities, communities, teachers and students, 157 events have been launched. Awareness rising activities take place in action theatres and the girls publish a newsletter. Seven (7) women who were victims of violence have been allocated a place in the women's hostel of SUS. They got social and psychological support and vocational training. SUS is involved in observing concrete human rights violations and sets up networks to protect the youth and to push reforms of the family law. Victims of trafficking in children: The Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association with support of NETZ has developed a concept for the psychological support and the reintegration of trafficked girls who were maltreated and forced into prostitution and for boys who have been highjacked to become camel jockeys. Partly the rent of the 171 children's hostel has been financed. Compensations: With the help of the Jamuna Char Development Committee, families who lost their land through the construction of the Jamuna bridge, set up 42 village committees to get their assured compensation. One most important success is that the time limit for applications has been extended through the authorities. 677 families have applied for compensation or have filed an objection against to small compensations. 25 cases were filed in 2001 and one media campaign was launched. NETZ has encouraged the village committees to work for the landless and for female headed households, which had been left out before. Emergency relief Relief for flood victims: The most hardly hit people of the 2000 flood in the south west of Bangladesh were supported through the Women Job Creation Centre. Warm blankets were distributed to 1.500 needy families, 500 old and weak people got distributed winter cloth and 400 girls got their school books replaced. NETZ in Germany - giving a voice to the poor. NETZ wants to give the poor people of Bangladesh a voice in Germany. A common solidarity is strengthened through the following activities: Public awareness rising activities Exchange programme: Ms. Shova Rani Shill and Mr. Jiptha Boiragee, health facilitator and advisor of the health programme run by Bastob, visited Germany accompanied by Ms.Marion Mueller. The approach of the health programme, focusing on the participation of the people, was discussed in public events organised by church communities, one world shops and schools. Events took place in Laubach, Waltop, Tauberbischofsheim, Ravensburg, Düsseldorf, Emden, Weener, Bunde, Wilsum, Wetzlar and in Frankfurt. Seminars: The exchange programme included a seminar on "Participation in Development Cooperation" which was held in Wetzlar from May 18 to 20, 2001. Exhibition "Pictures under black veil": The exhibition shows the perspective of women living on Dhalghata island and imparts how they analyse and solve their problems through picture drawing. In 2001, the exhibition was shown in Wetzlar, Obermarchtal, Waltrop, Frankfurt, Ravensburg and Weener. Schools: NETZ members conducted educational seminars on development aspects and politics and solidarity campaigns at different schools: Walk of sponsors: The Michael Ende Gymnasium in Tönisvorst has arranged a solidarity walk for projects in Bangladesh and collected € 15.304. Different classes intensively worked on different situations in Bangladesh. Class 6b won a price for their calendar on "Children without Childhood" in Bangladesh. Theatre plays: Two classes of Gesamtschule Waltrop rehearsed and performed "Kodom Ali sind wir", a theatre play of the Bangladeshi writer Mamunur Rashid in Waltrop and Wetzlar. The story describes the life of a boy in the harbour of Dhaka city, full of exploitation and injustice. One World Day: The Edith Stein School in Ravensburg organised a one world day on Bangladesh. All students three months long involved themselves in the topic and prepared events for that day to set up a lively market place within their school. Events on educational purpose: Several activities were arranged by voluntary members of NETZ in different groups and church communities i.e. in Birkenfeld/Neuenbürg, Feldberg (Schwarzwald), Gladbach, Hardheim, Krefeld, Oberkirch, Ravensburg, Schöffengrund, Selzen, Siegen, Vettelschloß and Wetzlar. Public relation activities: Regional Newspapers and inter regional magazines have reported about the work of NETZ in 36 publications. The NETZ magazine Since the beginning of 2001, Mr. Christian Weiß has functioned as editor of the NETZ magazine. A group of six unpaid members were associated as an editorial team. The magazine is circulated by 1.500 editions. Only one third of the publishing costs can be covered through a small number of paying subscribers, the rest was subsidised. Topics of the magazine in 2001 were: Saving and income generation programmes in Bangladesh (1/2001), The Chittagong Hill Tracts after the peace contract (2/2001), The landowners and the landless (3/2001) and, Women and their rights (4/2001). Networking and Advocacy NETZ is of the opinion, that real development means a process of learning from each other. An understanding of the situation in Bangladesh grows through personal exchange and through getting together, and, like that, the interests of the poor are looked after. In 2001, information was collected and contacts were established regarding the following topics: The situation of the hard core poor, who are often left out of development efforts. Causes and background of women rights violations as well as approaches for a solution. In the year 2001, discussions have been held on various levels, among others with: Scientists and development activists in Bangladesh The Ambassador of Bangladesh in Germany and the German Embassy in Bangladesh 16 non governmental organisations and associations working on Bangladesh, in Germany Governmental development agencies like the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Experts on development issues in Germany Interested persons and organisations within the rest of Europe To manage a better networking an E-mail distribution system was installed. Information was circulated in three "urgent actions" on human rights violations. NETZ is a member of the German associations Verband Entwicklungspolitik Deutscher Nichtregierungsorganisationen (VENRO), Aktionsgemeinschaft Dienst für den Frieden (AGDF) and Arbeitsgemeinschaft Globales Lernen (AGGL). Structure of the association Members: Until the end of 2001, the association was counting 148 members, among those around 70 members were non paid activists on several occasions. Executive Committee: The Chair of NETZ consist of the First Chairperson Mr. Manfred Krüger, Krefeld, the Vice Chairperson Mr. Hans Peter Zerfas, Lahnau, the Associated Chairpersons Mrs. Cornelia Schiepek, Minden and Mr. Burkhard Sambeth, Tübingen. The Executive Committee met four times. The advisory board, consisting of six members met once for a seminar, the members had an advisory function. The head office in Germany: In 2001, the office staff was working on the following topics: Mr. Ingo Ritz, the Executive Director, was responsible for project-cooperation, voluntary service, networking and advocacy. Mr. Peter Dietzel, Coordinator for projects and for public relations (100 percent), was responsible for project-cooperation, public education, the magazine and the facilitation of sponsors. Mrs. Hildegard Wenzel, Accountant, was responsible for accounts, address and donations' management and other administrative tasks. (15 hours/week) Ms. Heike Kluve was employed from January to July 2001 on honorary basis; her responsibility was the project coordination. The major change in 2001 is that NETZ has decided to have a representation office in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Therefore, on November 1, 2001 Mr. Habibur Rahman Chowdhury was engaged as a consultant. His responsibility is to apply to the NGO Affairs Bureau in Bangladesh for registration of the office and to establish an office with all necessary systems and materials. He will also follow-up the preparation as well as the facilitation of the development projects and to intensify the cooperation with all NETZ partner organisations. Donations Private donations and the support through church communities were underpinning the work; the donations are used as per indication of the donor. Financial Assistance: The work of NETZ in 2001 was supported through the following institutions: Aktionsgemeinschaft Dienst für den Frieden Ärzte für die dritte Welt Bistum Limburg Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (ABP-Programme) Evangelischer Kirchenkreis Braunfels Heinrich-Böll-Foundatio Katholischer Fonds für entwicklungsbezogene Bildungs- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit Hessisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Landesentwicklung Mission Österreich Städte Krefeld, Münster und Wetzlar Sternsinger Aktion Stiftung "Kinder in die Mitte" Stiftung Umverteilen. We would like to thank all our members, voluntary workers, donors and funding institutions, for their support and their great involvement and their cooperation efforts with Bangladesh! Ingo Ritz Executive Director NETZ Partnership for Development and Justice Finance 2001 Cooperation with Bangladesh Expenditure in Euro Development work in Bangladesh 316.297,29 as follows: Development projects 293.264,17 Emergency relief 17.846,06 Coordination 5.187,06 Supervision and consultation of development work 32.977,01 Fundraising and -management 8.814,37 Administration and headquarters 16.488,51 Banking fees 511,16 Transfer to 2002 for development work in Bangladesh 62.728,11 Total 437,816,45 Income in Euro Transfer from 2000 for development work in Bangladesh 65.987,28 Donations 116.284,21 Governmental funding 55.722,12 Funding through churches 189.206,85 Funding through private organisations 9.203,25 Interest proceeds 1.412,74 Total 427.816,45 Activities in Germany Expenditure in Euro Minus of 2000 20.049,68 Public education and public relations 24.399,52 Voluntary service 6.829,80 Networking with other organisations and association management 5.725,63 Magazine and publications 27.766,86 Fundraising and -management 2.570,08 Administration and headquarters 16.488,50 Transfer to 2002 for activities in Germany (Funds for activities in 2002 5.113,18) 14.886,96 Total 118.717,03 Income in Euro Donations to the balance of 2000 8.227,96 Funds for 2000, paid in 2001 11.821,72 Donations for activities in Germany 43.067,40 Paid memberships 1.815,59 Governmental funds 12.731,81 Funding through churches 16.089,57 Funding through private foundations 7.567,12 Sales (magazine & publications) 10.417,47 Fees for participation of seminars 3.872,26 Others 3.097,13 Total 118.717,03 Subtotal of expenditure in Bangladesh and Germany (except transfer) 478.918,41 NETZ Partnership for Development and Justice Moritz Hensoldt Strasse 20 35576 Wetzlar Phone: ++49 (0)6441 26585 Fax: ++49 (0)6441 26257 eMail: info@bangladesch.org