Project

(i) Micro Credit Program:

CREED started its Micro Credit Program in 1994. The objectives of the Micro Credit Program is to:

*alleviate rural poverty by providing loan for income generating activities
*raise the socio-economic status of rural ultra poor women
*raise the awareness of the community people about their legal and social rights
*teach basic skills for undertaking income generating activities.

The program started in Gazipur in 1994 with 17 savings groups. Now CREED has 189 savings groups in 4 branches with a total of 3831 members (report up to June, 2004).

CREED is running the loan program out of two different sources:

*CREED General Fund

*Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)

ii) Non-Formal Education Programme:

CREED firmly believes that education has a crucial role to break the vicious cycle of poverty. Education also plays a very important role to build human personality. It helps people to be aware of their rights and responsibilities. So, it is essential for both men and women to receive at least basic education and so the CREED’s development programmes begin with education. A short account of different non-formal education along with the number of learners covered in the financial year 2003-2004.

(iii) Formal Primary Education At St. Martin Island:

Saint Martin is a coral Island situated in the deepwater area of the Bay of Bengal and it is 32 kms. away from the main land, i.e. Tecnaf Upazila under Cox’s Bazar District. This Island is famous for its stone-chip and mineral resources.

It is well known that the St. Martin Island has low educational standards and no organisation had sought to resolve by providing socio-economic development programmes. For generations, islanders received no help to positively change their on-going socio-economic plight. Development facilities such as education and skills training are essential to improve the potential for islanders.

This Island is 8 kms. long and 1.5 kms. wide. About 5000 people live here of which 400 are children or adolescents. There is only one Government Primary School and only children from the north of the island are benefitting. Specifically, children and adolescents from the south of the island (approximately 60%) are being ignored.

In this context, CREED established a permanent Primary School at Konapara Village on St. Martin Island in 1998 for 400 illiterate Boys and Girls who were out of education. Recently, CREED has Constructed two School Buildings with the financial support of CIDA.

(iv) Supply of Latrine & Tube-Well Project:

This is a Partnership project with NGO FORUM for Drinking Water & Sanitation. During the year 2003-2004 under this project, CREED enabled 3, 000 Families to use sanitary latrines and tube-wells for safe (arsenic free) drinking water. CREED distributed 14 Tube-wells and 258 Sanitary latrines during the year.

(v) Creed Health Centre:

This provides a voluntary health service to poor people. CREED has established a health centre on it’s own land at the corner place of Tangail, Dhaka and Minikganj Districts. Primary health care (and especially eye treatment) has been provided since CREED opened this facility.

(vi) Plantation:

CREED purchased approximately 10 acres of land by the banks of the Bongshi river at the corner place of Tangail, Dhaka and Minikganj Districts. 30.000 saplings of epil epil, mehagany, segun, karoi, mango, coconut, guava and nut were planted and it is expected that within a 10 year period it will be economically viable for the organisational trust fund.

Additionally, CREED has one acre of land where vegetables are grown to earn income. Beneficiaries are able to buy vegetables at the minimum possible prices.

(vii) Fishing:

At the same location (within 10 acres) CREED has dig a pond for fish cultivation. During the year, CREED has been cultivating 30,000 pieces fish of different kinds.

(viii) Second Small Scale Water Resources Development Sector Project:

This is a partnership project with the LGED, Govt. of Bangladesh. Under this project, 8 general facilitators and 4 agricultural facilitators are assisting local LGED office of Barguna, Patuakhali and Bhola district.

(ix) Eco-Tourism Training Program:

Under this program, At St. Martin Island; CREED has organized a series of training course ining courses is to equip the inhabitants of St. Martin Island for undertaking Tourism activities.

(x) Networking Agencies:

CREED has formed and maintained a good network relationships amongst NGOs and Donors within Bangladesh and abroad. These include:

*Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB)
*Earth Action, (USA).
*World Conservation Union, (Switzerland).
*Earth Council, (Switzerland).
*World Bank Environment Program, (USA)
*Center for Environment Education, (India).
*Micro credit Summit, USA.

(xi) Secretariate Of Bangladesh Shalis Network:

CREED has instigated and organized this network with the collaboration of 42 NGOs working at grass roots level in Bangladesh. The aim of this network is to improve the organizational activities for smooth running of Shalish (mediation) activities.