Background

Approximately 2 million people live in the slums and streets of Dhaka. Many are forced to move from villages with their families, but the transition process is often long, and many children become lost or separated from their families during relocation and readjustment. Countless others live with their families on the streets or in slums, and a huge number of children also live alone. These children, especially girls, are vulnerable to violence, sexual abuse, child labour, conflict with the law and trafficking. They often have limited access to medical services resulting in them generally being in a poor health condition. Lack of adequate medical services coupled with limited access to education ultimately limits the children’s chances of reaching their full potential.

To address the needs of Dhaka’s underprivileged street children, in 2006, ActionAid Bangladesh established the Happy Homes programme. Five separate homes at five locations of Dhaka, providing 150 girls aged 7-18 who had been living on the streets with shelter, food, clothing, skills development and education. Later, in 2016, five homes merged into one single home in Mohammadpur. 

ActionAid Bangladesh aims to not only ensure the basic needs of these girls, but to also empower them to reintegrate in the society with dignity and become future leaders. At Happy Home, we ensure safe and secure living conditions, healthy meals, proper hygiene, and sanitation along with life skills development, psychosocial counselling, and recreation. Once these girls are settled in the Home, we admit them in formal education. We also offer vocational skills development training, so that they can find their talent and passion towards a promising career later in life. In the past, the home has also served as a drop-in centre for children who came to access daily necessities such as safe water, sanitation, and recreation through involvement in different indoor and outdoor cultural activities.  

Since 2006, we have helped 17,489 girls through this platform. With a holistic approach in providing the girls with long-term care and support, we aim to nurture their growth to become active citizens of the society.