June 16, 2018

Reading Time: 3 minutes

To close the month of Ramadan we got paints out in two of our child friendly spaces in Cox’s Bazar. One space was in Ukhia (one of the host communities) and the other space was in Kutupalong Extension Settlement. This is what happiness looks like at Eid for them.

Eid Mubarak, from our family to yours.

These following four stories and drawings belong to the little learners in the Hazem Rasta child-friendly space mainly attended by children living in the host community of Ukhia. The space normally sees around 40 to 50 children every day, usually before or after their school hours. Most of them live close by.

 

Fatema (learner, BRAC Child Friendly Space, Ukhia)

I visit my family, especially my grandparents, on Eid day. I am excited to go to my sister’s house. She has two boys. I love Eid because I get to play with them. I will wear red lipstick and my red hair clip, to match my new dress and new shoes. I will see my friends on the second day.

 

Sumaya (learner, BRAC Child Friendly Space, Ukhia)

I am excited for Eid. My ma always cooks lots of food. Noodles and shemai (vermicelli dessert) are my favourites. I am going to wear my new dress. My parents will take me, my little sister and big brother to see my relatives. Later I will go to the beach with my friends and our parents.

 

Asma (learner, BRAC Child Friendly Space, Ukhia)

I bought a yellow frock and yellow shoes for Eid. I got a pink dress and pink shoes for my little sister. I want to go visit my friends. They always have sweets. I hope it does not rain on Eid day. My family will not take me to the beach if it rains.

 

Sadia (learner, BRAC Child Friendly Space, Ukhia)

I want the rain to stop. I bought white shoes for Eid. I don’t want them getting dirty in the mud. I am going to wear a pink dress. I also have a matching clip for my hair. I will first visit my grandparents. I want to visit as many people as I can. They all give me chocolates and sweets. I love chocolate.

The following five stories and drawings belong to the little learners of Kutupalong, just a few out of almost a million Rohingyas who are living in the makeshift settlements in Cox’s Bazar. More than half of them are women and children, most of whom have lost their parents and have suffered sexual abuse.

 

Nurhaba (learner, BRAC Child Friendly Space, Kutapalong Extension Settlement)

I came to Bangladesh with my brother and my parents. We only have two children in our family now. My painting is of my home. It looks exactly like this, with flowers and trees. It is really colourful. I like flowers, especially roses. I want to go back to my home for Eid.

 

Shamim (learner, Child Friendly Space, Kutapalong Extension Settlement)

This is my house. I really miss it, especially all the tall, green trees. I like drawing. I also love playing football. Messi is my favourite football player. My friends think I don’t know him. But they are wrong.

 

Rumana (learner, Child Friendly Space, Kutapalong Extension Settlement)

I came here with my parents and six brothers and sisters. My home in Myanmar was on a hill. The hills were covered with trees. I drew my friends’ houses too. I loved visiting them on Eid day, in my new clothes. I especially love doing my hair.  

Kurshama (learner, Child Friendly Space, Kutapalong Extension Settlement)

I am the oldest sister. I have another little brother and sister. I love to wear a new dress on Eid. I like dressing my little sister too. This is a painting of my home. We had red and yellow walls. We had a banana tree on one side. The roses were on the other side. I miss smelling the roses.

 

Ehsan (learner, Child Friendly Space, Kutapalong Extension Settlement)

I live here with my grandmother and parents. I have five brothers and a sister. I went to this school in Myanmar. I drew everything I can remember. There is the Burmese flag in front. The small stalls sold cold, fizzy drinks and jalebi. I miss my school, but I like drawing and learning English here in the centre.

 

Children everywhere see the same beautiful world, no matter where they are from.

We are running 215 child-friendly spaces in Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf, providing children with safe spaces to learn, sing, and play, and receive psychosocial support from trained counsellors. Learn more about our work in Cox’s Bazar at http://response.brac.net

 

Nafeesa Shamsuddin is the team lead of communications, and Areez Rahman is a communication specialist of BRAC’s humanitarian crisis management programme. 

Zaian F Chowdhury is a senior writer and Sarah-Jane Saltmarsh is the head of content of BRAC Communications.

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Sabina Hossain
Sabina Hossain
4 years ago

Beautiful. Just touched my heart.