ADB Reaches Out to the Street Children of Bangladesh

"If I had the chance, I would be a doctor and serve poor people free of cost.

If I had the chance, I would like to go to school.

If I had the chance, I would build a beautiful village where all facilities are available.

If I had the chance, I would like to become a fairy and see the world.

If I had the chance, I would like to harvest more rice.

If I had the chance, I would like to be a rich man in the village.

If I had the chance, I would try all criminals who commit crimes against children."

These were among the dreams expressed — through art — by about 150 Bangladeshi street children from five nongovernment organizations, who participated in ADB’s Art Competition in Dhaka on 11 May 2002. The theme of the competition was “If I Had a Chance…”

Dhaka was one of seven cities in the Asia and Pacific region where ADB held an art competition to understand better the needs of street children.

The other cities are Jakarta, Indonesia; Kathmandu, Nepal; Manila, Philippines; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Ten children aged 5–16, with outstanding artistic ability, were awarded scholarships and trophies on 27 June 2002 in Dhaka after judging was done from ADB’s headquarters in Manila. The children themselves also selected two artworks as the best.

Speaking at the awards ceremony held at the Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management, Anisul Haq Chowdhury, Secretary, Economic Relations Division, cited ADB’s initiative to listen to the voices of street children.

“ADB’s effort to organize the event for the street children is laudable. They are the ‘forgotten’ ones. Every day (and night), we see them all around us, but we hardly notice them. It is heartening that ADB has not forgotten them.”

On behalf of ADB, Toru Shibuichi, Country Director, Bangladesh Resident Mission, expressed gratitude to the 150 children who participated in the competition and also attended the awards ceremony.

“I wish to thank the artists for their willingness to share their dreams with us…your dreams are very similar to those of children around the world. You dream of a life fulfilled through realizing your potential and contributing to your society. Furthermore, many of you dream of helping the poor because you have witnessed and experienced the pain of poverty,” Mr. Shibuichi said.

The awardees and some other participants in the competition were interviewed by ADB to get a more in-depth view of their needs and dreams, which will be featured by ADB in a book on street children in the Asia and Pacific region.

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