Narijibon students/bloggers celebrated Pahela Falgun

13th February was the first day of spring. Spring, this season brings color and festivities in the minds of people, lighting up the hearts of all age and life and living. Narijibon bloggers arranged a programme of several events with traditional songs, dance and recite poems to celebrated Pahela Falgun. They started their programme with one of most popular Rabindra Sangeet “Aha aje a basanta”(aha in this spring) watch more from video…

Narijibon bloggers: New Year resolution

Narijibon bloggers are wishing that the New Year might bring progress, prosperity, happiness, peace and success in everybody's life and some of Narijibon bloggers are sharing their New Year resolution.

Rahima Akter Hira says,

"In this year I will complete my courses on computer office program, graphic design, photography & English courses. I have another plan to do job. When I will get my certificates in all categories and then I will search job. I will also continue my study. It seems to me that learning has no age. Any one can do this in his/her life. And my New Year’s resolution is I will complete my study and pass my life peacefully."

Watch more from video...

Expectation of brighter days we want to start bengali blogging

Nari Jibon arranged workshop on Bengali blogging on 18th October 2008. Trainer Ms. Taslima Akter conducts this session successfully. More than 26 bloggers/students was present in this workshop. There was some new blogger who also get trained on basic things of blogging. / New bloggers also attend in this session to take training on basic of blogging.

In this workshop Ms. Taslima Akter discussed how to start Bangla blog, unicode font, different Bengali blogging platform such as Sachalayatan, somewhereinblog.net etc. She trained-up students how to write Bengali blog, entry and posting. Also she encouraged the students to start and continuing blogging from their own language.

Students are opening their own blog.

Some students opened their own blog after the session.

They are:
Shazi's Idea : http://shazisidea.blogspot.com/
My Spirit: http://shakuratushti.blogspot.com/
Anananda Dhara: http://naoshin.blogspot.com/
Amar Showpano: http://zannatullisha.blogspot.com/
Indrowdhanu: http://fabliha.blogspot.com/
Ahonar Rhythm: http://ahonabangla.blogspot.com/
Pretty's Archive: http://prettysarchive.blogspot.com/
Poroshmony: http://poroshmony.blogspot.com/

Bloggers are practicing Bengali typing

The English Sections of Nari Jibon Project

Mohtarimun Nahar [Bipa]
[The Supervisor of English Section & Editing]

Nari Jibon Project provides alternative skills for girls & women. Actually it is a training program. The Executive Director of this Project is Kathryn B Ward. She is a Professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies of Illinois University, Carbondale. She started this project in March 2005 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Funding comes from her and her mother Pat Ward and nominally from the students’ admission fees and other donations.

Here different aged of girls and women can take courses on English, Bengali, Tailoring, Computer Office Program, Graphics and Photography etc. Most of the students are of school, college and university levels. Also sex workers can get admitted in English, computers or any other sections in Nari Jibon.

Here we have Nari [Women] Cyber Café only for girls and women. Students are to submit their assignments to the related teachers and practice on English and Computer in this cyber café.

We have also a Blog Project in English [titled “Bangladesh from Our View” [http://narijibon.blogspot.com] and Bengali [“Amader Galpa (Our Stories)” [http://banglablog-narijibon.blogspot.com ] to enhance students’ & staffs’ creativity on different areas.
To know more about Nari Jibon Project you can visit-- www.narijiobon.com.

In Nari Jibon Project we have two English sections: English-1 [Basic Grammar, Reading, Writing and Speaking] and English-2 [Advanced Speaking, Reading & Writing]. Beside those two Practice Classes[Special English Spoken Practice Class] are held on Friday and Saturday morning.

I am the teacher of these sections. Some times many visiting teachers come to take English classes to encourage the students. The students are to attend in the English Sections before taking the computer course. Before admitting here students are to attend an admission test and their sections are decided on their results.

After every three/four month’s guardian meetings and prize giving ceremony are arranged. We also arrange blog workshop by experienced people. Now I will give some descriptions about Nari Jibon English classes.

English-1 [Basic Grammar, Reading, Writing and Speaking]:
Teacher: Mohtarimun Nahar (Bipa)

Course objectives:

• Students will learn Basic English vocabulary.
• Students will learn Basic English grammar rules.
• Materials mostly given in English (immersion).
• Practice on speaking, writing, reading, and understanding will be assigned in each class.
• Students will be able to: read, write and speak.
• Remove students’ hesitation on speaking.
• Students will contribute to the English blog.
• At the end of the course, students will be prepared to move to English 2.
Course requirements:
• Students must know the English alphabet before attending this class.
• Students will do their homework as requested.
• Students will develop their portfolio and plan.

Students will diligently attend classes, and provide adequate reasons for absence. They will be required to make up missed work.

English-2 [Advanced Speaking, Reading & Writing]:
Teacher: Mohtarimun Nahar (Bipa)

English 2 is the final course in English at Nari Jibon. Students who have completed English 1 and have passed a competency exam (oral and written) are eligible to join this class. English 2 is taught completely in English, and each class includes elements of speaking, reading, writing and comprehension. Students are expected to submit homework assignments as required by their teacher, to attend class regularly, and to sit for exams as scheduled.

Course objectives:

• Students will improve their English vocabulary.
• Students will improve their English grammar rules.
• Students will be able to: read, write and speak.
• Students will increase their confidence when conversing in English.
• Students will contribute to the English blog.
• Students will develop their portfolios.
• Students will complete internships.
• At the end of the course, students will be able to hold a conversation with a native English speaker, read and understand English writing, and write grammatically correct memos, essays and prose.

Rules of English- 1 & 2:

• The course will be finished within two months [English-1 within 24 classes and English- 2 within 16 classes].
• Students are required to purchase a cyber café pass card and complete their homework in the cyber café, at least one hour per week.
• Class Days & Time:
English-2: Wednesday & Friday [03.00 am – 05:00 pm].
Special English Spoken Practice Class: Saturday [11:00 am – 01:00 pm].
English-1: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday [03.00am – 05:00pm].
Special English Spoken Practice Class: Friday [11:00 am – 01:00 pm].
• Keep the mobile on vibrate in the class.
• Students will submit their assignments by sheet or through email.
• In every class, speaking will be practiced on different topics.
• After graduation, students will have to finish the internship program [for two weeks].
• If students miss more than one week of English class, they will be dropped from the class.
• If students refuse to turn in homework for more than two weeks, they will be dropped from the class.


The practices are done by:

Speaking	To be able to speak in different places on different topics and practice from diagram.
Writing	To be able to write paragraph, applications, cover letters, bio-data etc. and make portfolio.
Reading	To be able to read any passes or paragraphs fluently and the pronunciation will be corrected
Listening	To be able to understand English by listening and answer from given questions on that.
Question Answering	To be able to make questions and answer to those. Students will practice by answering some questions to one another and ask about class room objects.
Submitting assignments	Students submit their assignments on class related topics and BLOG. They will type in cybercafé and submit those through email to: mn.bipa@gmail.com ; bipa19@yahoo.com
Browsing internet	Students will browse some website and blogspot site and submit assignments as required by the teacher.

Some Pictures of English Class & Students of Nari Jibon:

I am [yellow dress] with the English students in Blog Workshop

Lee Goldman is in the English Class

A student is taking her prize from Mr. Rafiqul Islam [Project Director of Nari Jibon]

Sufia [NJ student] with the visiting Teachers [Aruna, Muniyat, Stella and Lee]

Lee with the English Class Students

Stella is in the English Class

Lee Goldman, Stella and Aruna are in the English Class

Stella, Muniyat and Aruna are in the English Class

Nari Jibon: Using Blogs to Give Bangladeshi Women New Skills

Cross posted from Rising Voices

The words “Nari Jibon” should be familiar to regular Rising Voices readers. The Dhaka-based project which has integrated blogging and citizen media into its English and computer classes has been covered frequently on Rising Voices in the past. In this video, we hear directly from the students and staff to get to know the individuals behind the blogs.

How Nari Jibon students/new bloggers are trying to go ahead

Cross posted from Sujan's Chinta

To develop Nari Jibon new bloggers, Nari Jibon arranged a photo session in last Friday (22 August 08). Four student bloggers (Jesmin ara Amzad, Jannat ara Amzad, Hira and Sufia), Nari Jibon staff blogger & Trainer Taslima Akter and Golam Rabbany Sujan went to visit Ahsan Manzil. They also visited and took pictures some of adjacent areas of Ahsan Manzil like Jagannath University and banks of Buriganga River, Victoria Park etc. Some of Nari Jibon students who receive skill training on English and Computers open blog addresses. Nari Jibon students also receive training on writing feature on different things in their classes, blog training, and digital camera operating etc. Some of them also open flickr accounts. As all the students bloggers have no own digital camera Nari Jibon authority arrange outside photo session for the students & regular bloggers. We think it will improve students’ knowledge and they will be motivated to keep more blogs.

Ahsan Manzil and (second) its display centre.

Ahsan Manzil was named by Nawab Khwaja Abdul Ghani after his son Nawab Khwaja Alimullah during the time of Mughals. It was built up during the time of Mugahls and it was used by Dhaka Nawab family. It is situated on the bank of the Buriganga River. Now it is using as a museum.

Nari Jibon bloggers are taking photos of Ahsan Manzil

Nari Jibon bloggers are introducing themselves with other visitors (foreigners) and inviting them to visit Nari Jibon. Jesmin and Jannath are talking in English with two Japanese and other people are listening to their conversation. Jesmin and Jannath are learning English at Nari Jibon.

We became sad when we saw the water of our Buriganga River is being polluted by the people and businessmen of this area and nobody care of this.

Nari Jibon Project and Its Bloggers: What Other Bloggers are Saying

Cross posted from bideshi blue

Students in the computer lab.....

Recently I returned from 45 hot (beshi garum) days in Bangladesh where I visited the Nari Jibon Project, among other activities. Loadshedding continued to take its toil on me, Nari Jibon computers, students as well as garment factories. Nonetheless students have come to their computer and english classes as well as practiced in the women only cyber cafe. During this visit, many students opened their own blogs!

During this time, Nari Jibon hosted a visiting lecturer, Kira, who gave a lecture and worked with smaller groups on blogs, photography, photo websites.

In response, many students posted in the Nari Jibon english blog for the first time. Other students have continued to contributed to Nari Jibon bangla blog. Many of the bangla poems have been translated into english and posted in the english blog. Some students opened their own blogs (in English and Bangla) and some staff started blogging again...

some bloggers' photography session with Ms. Kira:
Zannat, Jannat, Choti, Kira, Jainub's daughter, Jesmin

For overviews of these blogging activities, check out what others have been saying about Nari Jibon and its bloggers. Please follow the links within and read the bloggers' creative activities as they find and develop their own voices and computer-photo skills and continue to post. Your comments (kind, thoughtful, constructive) will provide much needed encouragement. Below, I list some students' and staff members' individual blogs.

new from David Sasaki's visit to Dhaka and Nari Jibon Project:

http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2008/09/02/nari-jibon-using-blogs-to-give-bangladeshi-women-new-skills/

new ! http://el-oso.net/blog/archives/2008/09/02/bangladesh/en/

http://el-oso.net/blog/archives/2008/08/15/an-update-from-nari-jibon/en/

http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2008/08/14/nari-jibon-making-a-difference/

http://uncultured.com/2008/07/25/what-would-kathy-do/

http://www.k-minos.com/?p=577

http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2008/07/10/nari-jibon-the-joy-of-having-their-own-blog/

Some Students’ blog addresses:

Afrin's Gallery http://asiaafrin.blogspot.com/

Jesmin’s garden http://jesmingarden.blogspot.com/

Zannat's world http://zannatworld.blogspot.com/

Rainbow http://jannat-fardoush.blogspot.com/

Bangladeshi Women http://jainub-khanam.blogspot.com/

Ahona http://ahona-hira.blogspot.com/

Window of Mind, http://sufia-eti.blogspot.com/

My Dream, http://poly-dream.blogspot.com/

Choti’s blog http://choitrerdinguly.blogspot.com/

Staff blog addresses:

new ! Kajol's destiny http://kajols-destiny.blogspot.com/

Bipa’s Prokrito Bangladesh http://www.bipa-prokritobangladesh.blogspot.com/

Sujan’s Chinta, http://hi-bangladesh.blogspot.com/

Creative talk by Nilufa http://annekuet.blogspot.com/

Kazi’s eye, http://kazi-rafiq.blogspot.com/

Techna Tara: http://taslima-toma.blogspot.com/

computer teachers taslima & nilufa watch kira teach about photography

Two more success history of Nari Jibon students

By Golam Rabbany (Sujan)

Sweety started home based tailoring business at the end of her course duration of Nari Jibon. Last July’08 she earned 800 taka from her home based tailoring business. Sweety completed ‘Tailoring Cutting and Sewing Master Course’ from Nari Jibon recently. She learned there 34 tailoring items successfully. Now she can make various kinds of Children and women’ dresses, pillow covers, curtains, fotuya, panjabi, maxi, shorts and shirts, veil etc.Sweety is about 18 years old and unmarried. She studied up to class-8. After passing class-8, her parents were unable to prosecute her study as then they faced serious financial crisis. Then she quitted her study and started to work in the garment factory. But her parents and relative did not like her working in the garment factory. After working one year in the garment factory, she gave up continue her job. After that she was passing her time at their house. Being informed about Nari Jibon from her younger sister she took admission at Nari Jibon to learn tailoring items.She took admission at Nari Jibon dated 1st March 2008. She used to take class regularly and she was attentive to learn tailoring items. She got tailoring scholarship from Nari Jibon. That’s why she used to get chance practice more time and as a result she became very expert to make dresses. She started to work in the home based tailoring business from last June.

Sweety is making dress at her house

Sweety is thinking that she will set up a tailoring shop in a village market near her village with her younger sister who is working in a tailoring shop and she is also a graduate student of Nari Jibon. She already talked with her parents and they are also agreed with her plan. Her parents will also leave Dhaka.

Papia akter is about 23 years old. She could not read or write though she went to the school about one year at her childhood. She worked in the garment factories more than ten years. Due to being pregnant she gave up working in the garment factory at the beginning of 2005. Papia and her husband were not agreed to start working in the garment factory again due to their small baby. Papia heard about Nari Jibon from one of her neighboring girl who was also a student of Nari Jibon. Then she took admission to learn Bangla as she was interested to learn tailoring items. She took admission dated 15th February 2008 in Bangla section and Tailoring section.Now Papia can read and write Bangla and also she has learned English alphabets and some small words. She also can read and write numbers (English, Bangla), addition, subtraction and multiplication etc. Still now she is coming to Nari Jibon for more study. Papia also completed Tailoring Cutting and Sewing Master Course from Nari Jibon successfully. She learned 32 tailoring items. She practices long time at Nari Jibon and she also completed her internship. After being admitted at Nari Jibon Papia applied for scholarship. Then she was facing financial problem as she had to spend a good number of money during her delivery period. As she was regular, attentive and poor student Nari Jibon provide her scholarship to learn tailoring items well. She used to get long time to learn and practice at Nari Jibon that helped her being expert tailoring master.

Papia is making dress at her house

Now, she can make all kinds of child dresses, Pillow cover, curtain, Salower, kamiz, various designs of three pieces, Panjabi, Fotua and other women’ dresses. Last August’08 she bought a sewing machine as she wanted to run home based tailoring business. Last July’08 Papia earned more than 700 taka making dresses of her neighboring people. Now Papia does not want to take job to any garment factory or any tailoring shop as she is to look after her small daughter. But she wants to run her home based tailoring business. In future she will try to expand her business like as she will keep some assistant tailoring workers and she will circulate her business and collect more dress making order etc.

Some results of Nari Jibon’s activities

By Golam Rabbany Sujon

Nari Jibon provides computer, English, Bengali, and Tailoring skills with its developed curricula where students attended classes, practice their skills in a woman only cyber café, compile a portfolio of their work, and finish through an internship. Students develop their skills through using women cyber café and contributing posts to on-line blogs. Blogging improves students’ knowledge, internet use, writing and computer knowledge. Students keep their blogs in the Nari Jibon two blog sites and some their own blogs. Some students already have started working in the several sectors. After sometime in work or away from education, some students have re-started their computer and English studies as they have understood the necessity of education. Some students have engaged in income generating activities. Being skilled and developed, some students changed their thoughts and decided to pursue higher education even after getting job too.

I also posted some successful stories in the Nari Jibon blog site before like as “When Nari Jibon acts as an alternative skill provider, Mafia- A successful student of Nari Jibon Organization, Ruby Rahman- A Successful Business Woman, Two Students of Nari Jibon have Started a Business, A bit success of Nari Jibon- Asma Akter, My life –Nila Sultana, etc

Anjuman Ara Ali

Anjuman ara ali is about 31 years old. She joined in a famous multinational company named “Flora Limited” as Assistant Accountant Officer. She joined there in last September 2007. At the beginning time her salary was held 5500 taka per month excluding other facilities. She completed her masters in Economics from Bodrunnesa under national university. She took skill from Nari Jibon in English and Computer. She completed courses in English-2, Ms Office Program, Hardware Trouble shooting and Maintenance from Nari Jibon. Now she is passing her time happily and she is grateful to Nari Jibon.

Afsana Parveen

Afsana Parveen (aged 30) joined in an established private school named Genius School and College as Computer operator & documentation officer. She joined there in last January 2007. At the beginning time her salary was held 4000 taka. Afsana studied up to class-12 (H.S.C). After getting married she was working as a housewife. In the meantime she also gave birth to children. Once she came at Nari Jibon with her sister in law to learn English and Computer. She completed taking course at Nari Jibon English-1 and English-1.5 course and Computer Ms Office Program (Ms Word, Ms Excel, Access, Power point and Publisher). She was also learning Graphic design and Hardware Trouble shooting maintenance Program but she could not complete these programs due being busy with her job and household. Now she is happy with her job as she can contribute to her family financially.

Samsun Naher

Samsun Naher aged 28 joined in an international marketing company named “Ceragem-Bangladesh Ltd” as a Computer operator & Customer Care. She studied up to class-16 (M.A.). She was married and she was working as housewife before coming at Nari Jibon. Learning about Nari Jibon from one of her relative she took admission at Nari Jibon dated 14th August 2006. She learned Computer Ms Office Program Course and English-2.0 (Spoken English). At the end of her taking course she got this job. Then she used to come at Nari Jibon two days in a week. At the beginning time her salary was held 7700 taka per month excluding other facilities. She is happy with her job and she is grateful to Nari Jibon.

Tahmina

Tahmina is 17 years old. She studied up to class-8. She joined in a tailoring shop named ‘Shapla Tailors’ at Mouchak market as an ‘Assistant Sewing and Cutting Master’. She joined there in March 2007. She could not study due to poverty. Her father is a small businessman (vegetable seller) and mother is a housewife. She learned Tailoring Cutting and Sewing Master from Nari Jibon successfully. She learned 34 tailoring items from Nari Jibon. After completing her course she started home based tailoring business. Later she took job. At present she can earn more than 1500 taka per month and she can also earn some money running her home based tailoring business during her weekly off day and early in the morning.

Hazera took some dresses at Nari Jibon which she made at her home based tailoring business centre in a week

Hazera Akter is about 18 years old. She studied up to class-10. Hazera could not study due to scarcity of money. Her father is living separately getting second married from long days. Being failure to appear S.S.C. examination Hazera was working as a home worker. She was informed about Nari Jibon by one of Nari Jibon staff. Then she took admission at Nari Jibon dated 21 August 2007 to learn Tailoring Sewing and Cutting course as she was thinking to earn money for helping her mother to maintain their family. Before completing her course duration she learned 34 tailoring items as a result she was able to have more practice on her learning items.

She has joined in a tailoring shop as Tailoring Sewing and Cutting Master that is situated same area of her residence. She gets commission of her income in this shop. Thus she can earn more than 1200 taka per month from this shop. She joined there in the month of January 2008. Besides she also runs home based tailoring business. She works here at night and early in the morning. She can also earn some money running her business. She can earn more than 500 taka per month running her home based tailoring business. Now she is happy with her income and she is also grateful to Nari Jibon.

Beauty Akter took some dresses at Nari Jibon from her home based tailoring business.

Beauty Akter is about 14/15 years old. She is working in a tailoring shop named ‘Lovely Tailors’ as Assistant Tailoring Sewing and Cutting Master. She gets commission working with this shop. Beside this she is running home based tailoring business at her house. Her elder sister named Sweety is also learning tailoring course at Nari Jibon who helps her to run her home based tailoring business. Last month June 2008 Beauty received more than 1200 taka from her job and she earned more than 800 taka from her home based tailoring business.

Beauty learned Tailoring Cutting and Sewing Master from course Nari Jibon in 2007. She learned 34 tailoring items from Nari Jibon. After completing her course successfully she started to run home based tailoring business.

She was born in a poor family. After passing class-5 she could not continue her study due to poverty. Her father is a daily labor and mother is garment worker. She has three sisters and she is second of them. Now she is happy as she can earn some money and she can help her parents to maintain their family

Rahima Akter Hira

Hira is about 23. She joined in a Buying house as a computer operator. She is a student of Eden Mohila College in class-14 and she was also taking skill on computer and English from Nari Jibon. When she joined to her job she was bonded that she would work 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and she would pass one day half and one day full time off in a week. She wanted to prosecute her job beside her academic study and taking skill from Nari Jibon. But she did not get that opportunity. After joining there she had to work up to 8.00 pm and she did not get weekly off day too. She was also told that she would work up to 10.00 pm that she was not possible to her. It also made a problem to prosecute her education. On the other hand, she changed her future plan. That’s why she resigned from her job last month. Now her future plan is after completing academic study up to masters and taking skills on computer and English she will take a good job in any reputed private organization where she can use her knowledge properly.

Hira is learning Ms Office Program, Graphic design and Hardware from Nari Jibon. She is also regular blogger of Nari Jibon. After getting training on blogging from Nari Jibon she is putting her blogs on her own blog site named http://ahona-hira.blogspot.com/

Rifat Akter

Rifat Akter joined in Grameen Phone Telecom Company as Customer Manager. At the beginning time her salary was held 6000 taka per month excluding some other facilities. But very few months she worked there because it was making obstacle to continue her study. And she also changed her future plan. Now she is thinking that she would comple her academic study up to masters and she would also complete her computer skill from Nari Jibon. Then she will try to get a job in Banking/Investment sector. She is reading Accounting honors at Govt. Titumir College. Now she is reading in second year.

Rifat Akter completed English-2 course from Nari Jibon. She has also completed Ms Office Program course from Nari Jibon. Now she is learning Computer Hardware Trouble Shooting and Maintenance Program and Graphic Design course from Nari Jibon. She is also a blogger of Nari Jibon and recently she has opened her own address named http://rifat.akter.blogspot.com where she is putting her blogs regularly.

Some Day poem

Some day

Zannat Ara Amzad

Her poem translated by Kazi Rafiqul Islam from Bangla in Amader Kotha blog.

Zannat is one of our award winning bloggers and students. You can see more of her english writing in her own blog, Zannat's World.

If some day

A stranger becomes known to me

If you and I spread our wings

When the sky is blue.

Eyes on eyes

All the untold words

Will turn into our love

On that day.

Whatever the day is

No matter what the time is

I will remove all barriers

Do play the flute of love.

Poem on 21st February

The morning of 21^st February

Sufiya Khatun

Her poem has been translated from Bangla--Amader Kotha blog--by Kazi Rafiqul Islam.

Sufiya is one of our award winning poets-essay writers-bloggers in Bangla and Rising Voices, International Women's Day Poetry Jam for her poem, "Priority" originally in Bangla, in Amader Kotha (Our Stories), first poem in this link or in this blog.

You can read more of Sufiya's blogging in Bangla on her Bangla blog, Moner Janala (Window of Mind)

Do not cry, o mother

Thousands of your sons are coming

Wake up to receive them.

This morning everyone is weaving

Garlands with flowers of their heart

Let the scene pacify, o mother

The pains for the lost son.

Prepare the bouquet of flowers

The morning star has risen

Souls of our brothers have come from the heaven

We have to receive them.

The red ‘Palash’ has bloomed

Also ‘Shimul’ on the branches.

Look o mother, my brothers

Are calling me.

Rafiq with a bouquet of flowers

Shafiq with a smile on the face

Salam and Jabbar in a happy mood

Are coming together.

Barkat is at the front

“O mother” he utters.

All of them have come to you, mother

Then what makes you cry?

International Women's Day 2008--Poems from Nari Jibon Students

From Kathryn Ward, USA. Graphics from TakeBackTheTech!


In honor of International Women's Day, six Nari Jibon students composed Bangla poems on the theme of "Women Hold Up Half of the Sky". Sufia's poem (below) was selected as one of three student bloggers' poems for the Rising Voices Poetry Jam (others from Madagascar and Colombia).

Here are the english translations of all six entries from the Nari Jibon Project as translated by Kazi Rafiqul Islam; the Bangla versions will be up soon on Amader Kotha as well as some other poems and stories for this day!

Enjoy some of the latest from the Nari Jibon Project students whose talents continue to grow and as they tell their stories through poetry!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Priority

Sufia-734 (In Bangla)

Time has come now

To stand for that we need

Not equality, but priority.

Upright

We want to open our heart

Express our mind

For that we need

Not equality, but priority.

Fathers can be cruel even

Mothers cannot.

Mothers can sacrifice

Fathers cannot.

That is what women are

We can do everything.

Combating with sorrow

Win happiness.

No more shall we endure injustice

No more shall we remain within the four walls.

Time has come to open ears and eyes

To protest against unfair deeds.

For that we need

Not equality, but priority.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You are a woman

Sonia-782 (In Bangla)

You are a woman

O woman, you are my mother.

A woman is the symbol of beauty.

O woman, you are the beginning

You are the end.

In you I find the morning, the evening.

In darkness you bring light

You serve us

You are the blessing of God.

You have equal rights in all affairs

You are affectionate, symbol of love.

Your love makes us feel great.

On this International Women’s Day

We convey our love and respect.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Woman

Rosy Alam-555 (In Bangla)

Behind every success, who plays the prominent role?

None else, it is woman who achieves the goal.

It is known to everybody

Woman is a poem of victory.

That is why endless sorrows and pains

Can not touch you, even

In a male dominated society

Still you give a gaiety

Without you the world is ugly

You have made it beautiful, really.

You are sacred, holy you are

You own the achievements, here and there.

That is why on the day

Remembering you I want to say

All my love and respect to you.

O woman! You are symbol of fulfillment

We pay you all our tributes and honor

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am still alive

Husnul Awread-769 (In Bangla)

Don’t shed your tears, other

I do suffer a lot

Who told you mother

I am not alive.

When my memory

Haunt you, mother

I will blossom as flowers in the garden.

Keep the flower with dearly care

Into the lock of your hair.

Before going to bed keep the flower in the vase.

You will dream the flower – talking with you.

I am still alive as a flower

On your lap, mother

As thousands of flowers.

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In vain

Surma Akter- 691 (In Bangla)

Story of a woman’s life

All in vain

No one wants to listen.

Story of a woman’s life

Laughter and tears, pains and sorrows

That is the way of life.

Story of a woman’s life

Along the solitary path

Hurdles and barriers.

Story of a woman’s life

Spread around imaginations.

Days and years pass away

Pass all the decades

Still the sufferings of women

Remain uncared.

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Confident woman

Shilpi Akter -772 (In Bangla)

Can I say as a woman

Am I not the vast sky?

Can I say as a woman

Am I not a beach of the sea?

Can I say as a woman

Am I not hills and mountains?

Can I say as a woman

Am I not crater of a volcano?

Can I say as a woman

Can’t I be the life saving oxygen?

Can I say as a woman

Am I not hard working as a man?

I can be everything as a woman

I can build up a strong mind and self confidence.