Padakhep: A Center for Sustained Human Development

In order to study urban replication of the Grameen process, we visited Padakhep: A Center for Sustained Human Development. This organization has brought microlending to the urban poor in Dhaka city and throughout the country. Grameen Bank was formed under a special government regulatory authority that only allows the bank to work in rural areas and needs other organizations like this one to replicate Grameen for the urban poor. The actual banking process is very similar to that of Grameen’s but the loans are usually for larger amounts because of the higher cost of living within an urban area.

            Padakhep has several other poverty relief programs throughout Dhaka and we visited one of 4 homes for abandoned children. This program operates like an orphanage that takes in children from the street, rescuing them from a life of begging in order to survive. The home not only feeds and shelters the children but also provides practical skills training so that the child can support herself once she emerges at 18. Training includes tailoring, pottery making, and other small handicrafts that the children can sell. The facility is funded by UNICEF but still struggles to feed and clothe the number of children coming through their doors. They also sell the small crafts that the children make in order raise extra funds. During my visit the children who I met wanted to sing a song for me that they had been working on. One song led to another and before long a very enthusiastic little boy was dancing to the beat of all the children singing and clapping for him!