Testimony

From our young volunteers

DCI engages the young to participate in our field activities with a goal to broaden the perspective of these future leaders. Here are some reports by our young volunteers from the field.

- Lira Chowdhury
- Mushfiqa Jamaluddin
- Shantalle Alam
- Shashank Vodapally

From our sponsors and patrons

Quite a few of our sponsors, patrons and their family members have traveled to Bangladesh and visited their sponsored children and the development projects. This is what some of our sponsors have to say:

On my first visit to meet my sponsored children in Bangladesh, I was amazed to see the effect DCI's Sun Child Sponsorship Program was having on the sponsored children as well as their families and communities. I was overwhelmed with joy to see that my contribution was really bringing changes in the lives of the distressed. Villagers were so happy that Sun Child Sponsorship program selected their area for the project. That visit also significantly impacted my life and my view of the world. After my visit, I began taking a much more active role and made a full-time commitment to DCI work to help these impoverished children and their families. This work for children is my mission and goal in life. I request everyone- please come and join us and tell your family and friendsabout DCI. A better and brighter future of a child is in your hands. Hold out your hand and grab on to a child.

~ Limu R. Chowdhury
Director, SCS Program, DCI
1916 Wood Dale Circle, Cedar Hill, TX 75104, USA

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Nabil Anwar witnessing child labor in Dhaka City

Without DCI, I cannot imagine how I could possibly have seen and learned so much as an undergraduate about medicine, other cultures, and my own desire and ability to make a difference in others' lives.  Working with this wonderful organization has really changed my life and made me feel good about who I am – and at the same time helped me realize the enormous capacity I have to help others.

Nabil Anwar
DCI Volunteer in Bangladesh
Chicago, IL

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Nahreen Ahmed visiting a slum and observing the terrible living conditions there

I had no clue while traveling with the DCI team in Bangladesh that I was about to go through a life-changing experience. We were greeted by adorable young children that live in unimaginable conditions.  But that did not keep them from smiling or greeting us happily.
Spending time with them made me appreciate my family and the material comforts that many of us here in the United States take for granted.   I plan to return to Bangladesh and do more volunteer work for these children as soon as I can because this trip opened my eyes to a whole other side of life and really changed my perspective on things.

Nahreen Ahmed
Drexel University, PA

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Saika Belal Nitol receiving a friendship band from a Sun-Child on friendship day.

I am having a great time working and collecting data in DCI’s Clinic for the Underprivileged. I really appreciate DCI's hospitality. Also, I recently visited some DCI-supported orphanages, and I was truly moved by the changes the services offered by DCI are making in these children’s lives. I am so lucky to have been able to work there as a volunteer.

Saika Belal Nitol
DCI Youth Volunteer

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Seeing the extent of the poverty in Bangladesh over the years, particularly among children, has been painful. But on my most recent trip there things were different. For the first time I saw the flame of hope and happiness in the bright faces of the many children DCI has helped. Having the opportunity to work in such a caring environment where children receive access to health care and education makes one feel that there is hope for the future of the world.

Maliha Ahmed
DCI Youth Volunteer, PA

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Dear DCI Staff,

I’m pleased to have met you and I’m excited to be a part of your monthly mission. I look forward to working with you and I hope that you will accomplish your long-term goal of providing more children with the opportunity for a better life.

My best wishes,

Danita Topcagic
Advocacy Project Peace Fellow

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Faraz Karim with his sponsored friend

We are so proud of the work DCI is doing for our sponsored children.  May God bless all of you.

Faraz Karim
M. Manzurul Karim and Hasina Karim
11891 Royal Palm BLVD
APT # 101, BL- 13
Coral SPRING, FL# 33065, USA

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I was very impressed with the briefing given by the DCI Team. The whole team is very committed.  I feel confident that the work they are doing is making a big difference in the lives of the underprivileged in Bangladesh.  I hope to visit a DCI project in future and observe their efforts first-hand. Thanks so much.

Chowdhury Salahuddin Mahmood
DCI Texas Representative
5104 Welara Drive
Grand Prairie, TX, 75052

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I had the opportunity to visit Rangpur, Nilphamari- JalDkaka, and see my sponsored child – Rabiul Ajaharul. I also talked to a few children and their parents. I was very impressed with the whole system and the way it is being implemented.

Thank to all of you for the great job you are doing,

Rabiul Karim Belal
Vice Chairman
FOBANA (Federation of Bangladesh Associations of North America)-2007
2645 M. Rushwood Ct., Wichita, KS, 67226

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I was delighted to meet the members of DCI’s office in Bangladesh. I am so pleased to see their work for the Sun Child Sponsorship program.  I think all the members of this office are very efficient, motivated and passionate about their work for distressed children – and I am looking forward to working together with this team for many years to come.

Best regards,

Mr. Masud Reza
President
Bangladesh Association of North Texas
DALLAS, TX. – USA

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I am sponsoring 40 children in the Sun Child Program. It was a privilege for me to visit Distressed Children International in Bangladesh. I am very happy to be a part of this noble work that DCI is doing for these underprivileged children and their families.  I truly believe that by working together we can make a difference in this world.

Best wishes,

Shahan Chowdhury

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I have really enjoyed my time in Bangladesh. It has been so encouraging to see so many dedicated people working for such a worthy cause.  I have received such a warm welcome from DCI. I look forward to staying in touch and working together in the future. I know that DCI is destined to grow and accomplish even greater things with RSC, DAB and other collaborators. Thank you for your kind welcome and hospitality.

Sincerely,

Brian Wayda

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Mr. Tanbir Ahmed, Atlanta Chapter volunteer, giving a digital camera to the DCI Bangladesh Liaison Officer for Habiganj, Sylhet Project

DCI’s Bangladesh office was really well-equipped and its staff is very skilled, efficient, and polite. I am so encouraged by the work they are doing, and I offer them my best wishes for continued success.

Tanbir Ahmed
3631Pin Oak Circle
Doraville. GA- 30340, USA

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After cyclone SIDR, a newborn in a tent with DCI volunteer Ms. Lira Chowdhury

Lira spent three weeks in Bangladesh as part of our relief team.  During her stay, Lira helped to distribute cyclone aid. She also visited SCS project areas in Feni and Patuakhali. She had this to say about her experience: “I saw many things that I didn’t know existed. Here in the USA, an eight-year-old boy goes to school and plays baseball; there I saw boys of that age operating sewing machines and running various types of heavy machinery. A mother walked five miles just to ask for help for her sick child. After witnessing these things, at first I felt ashamed of my designer sunglasses and clothes – but then I realized that these people do not want or need these material things; all they want from me is to help them get a better life. This trip inspired me to get even more involved with DCI, and it confirmed my desire to be a doctor.”

Lira Chowdhury
DCI’s Youth Volunteer Coordinator for Texas

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I took it as my life’s mission to work for distressed children. In establishing DCI's Orphan Support Program, our aim is to enhance the physical, emotional, social and intellectual well-being of children living in orphanages in Bangladesh.  Please join this effort.

I would like to offer my most sincere gratitude to all of our existing sponsors, donors, and supporters.  Your continued support and generosity will give these very deserving children a priceless gift: hope for a better future.

Thank you so much for choosing to make a difference in the life of a child.

Sabina Ahmed, MBBS, M.D.
Director,
Orphan Support Program, DCI

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Adil Faisal-DCI Website architechtect-with the DCI-Bangladesh team in Dhaka office

We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to work with DCI in building the best of breed, transparent and stable system for helping underprivileged children and their families. With Allah’s help and with active participation of all of you wonderful people, we hope to achieve that goal soon. Please visit DCI at www.distressedchildren.org, get involved, sponsor a child today. Together, Allah willing, we can make a difference.

Best regards,

Adil Faisal
minipack
College Park, MD

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Shantalle Alam with children at the DCI-supported Orphanage in Azimpur, Dhaka

I went to Bangladesh in Jan, 2008. My favorite moment there was seeing all the kids from every window in the orphanage waving goodbye and telling us to come back soon.  That was also the moment I promised myself I would return to Bangladesh just to visit them again……The last place we went was the slums.  This was a very different experience. In many regards what I saw that day is what motivates me to work hard, whether at school or around the house. I often tell myself that soon the hard work I’m doing now will put me in a position to help improve the lives of people in Bangladesh.  I know that all of us who witnessed the terrible living conditions in the slums share a desire to make a real difference. style='mso-bidi-font-weight: bold'>

Shantalle Alam
Skokie, IL.

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It was a pleasure meeting and working with the DCI team in Bangladesh. The work they are doing is truly amazing.  My heartfelt thanks to all of you. I hope to see all of you again next Summer.  May God bless you.

Labiba Rahman
DCI Youth Volunteer
George Washington University

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Drs. Rokeya Huq and Manzur Huq traveled to Bangladesh in January 2007 to visit the child they are sponsoring. They were pleasantly surprised when DCI's personnel made them feel so welcome.

To see the work that gets done in the projects is very useful and necessary, and that the money is used well, motivates you to return to the USA to create awareness about the work that DCI does on the field. We were overwhelmed by so much amiability. We felt that our collaboration is scant for such a tremendous effort. This renews our commitment and we would like to sponsor a new child.

~ Drs. Rokeya Huq and Manzur Huq
29 Tarrywile Lake Rd., DANBURY, CT, 06810, USA

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Our family has been active in supporting three children in Bangladesh for two years. It was a beautiful experience to see the smiling face of those sponsored children while I visited all “Sun Child Project areas in Bangladesh. I feel that we have lifted all the families' spirits and the children affected have felt a deep feeling of love by the American children and the sponsor families.

I was proud to see how the contributions arriving from the United States were being directly distributed by the project managers. The funds collected were appropriately allocated to all aspects of helping the people, stretching from education for the children to helping generate income for the participating parents and families.
I also want to congratulate all who woks here for their great dedication and enthusiasm.

~ Ruqsana Ahmed (Poly)
11505 Kings Knight Circle, GRAND BLANC, Michigan, MI 48439, USA

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My family has sponsored Palash Chandra (NP-33) since 2006. I've had the privilege of visiting the DCI project in Bangladesh in December 2006. I was very delighted to talk with the DCI staff, as well as the officials of AFB and DAB. They are working very hard to make the Sun Child Sponsorship Program a success. DCI is doing a wonderful job. There are many children in Bangladesh and around the world in need. Through DCI, you have a wonderful opportunity to sponsor a child and to help give hope to one of these beautiful children. Please join me. Sponsor a child who is searching for meaning, for hope, for a place in this world.

~ Reza A. Kazi (Rodis)
3113 LINCOLNSHIRE Drive, RICHARDSON, TX 75082-4946, USA

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It has been my pleasure to be part of the DCI family. My family has sponsored Balaet Hossen (FN#03) for the last two years. In 2006, I visited the DCI Dhaka office and met with volunteers working at different sites. The work process looks transparent and every individual is dedicated and well motivated to make this dream come true. I am very hopeful about the DCI child sponsor program and I hope, together we will be able to bring significant changes to the lives of these distressed children. Please come forward and join us to make this happen. Our little contribution can change the lives of thousands of children.

~ Ayesha Dewan
80 Shoddy Mill Drive, ANDOVER , CT, 06232, USA

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My experience with DCI has been wonderful. Everything is extremely transparent. The volunteers are totally focused on eradicating poverty and child workers and I am happy to be a part of this mission. My daughters Hannah and Isabella sent their sponsored children their recent school photos and some gifts. You can see the sponsored children showing those gifts in the picture. My daughters are learning about developing countries and how fortunate they are here in the US. I love the way they are becoming more compassionate towards others and I know this will make a lasting difference in their lives. My family and I are looking forward to traveling to Bangladesh soon to visit with our sponsored children.

~ Liz Swearsky
6 Shipton Court, Cheshire, CT, 06410, USA

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Arush Sarwar visited Bangladesh end of 2006.
After my visit to Bangladesh, I decided to devote myself to aiding the distressed children through DCI. I also want to work extensively for youth leadership development in the USA by motivating American children to take on more humanitarian activities. In the near future, I want to visit Bangladesh with an organized group of my American friends to conduct more humanitarian work for Bangladeshi children.

~ Arush Sarwar,
142 Chateau Latour Drive, Kenner, LA 70065, USA

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We are sponsoring Imran Imdadul (FK#34). Last year we visited the DCI project in Bangladesh. Thank you DCI for having the courage to go to difficult places and deal with the extreme needs of children in Bangladesh. We feel DCI is making a world of difference and a difference in the world. Everybody deserves to have the basics in life. Being a sponsor with DCI is something I truly believe in.

~ M. Rahman Khan
6004 Blue Spruce, McKINNEY, TX 75070, USA

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We have enjoyed our visit at DCI, It truly is remarkable to see how DCI operates and make significant contribution to a child's well being. We are extremely happy that we have joined with the DCI and its programs.

Our trip to Dhaka was very satisfying as we've met Samina (our sponsored child from Feni)..We are very glad to be part of this great movement and hope that we can make some people happy. We will encourage our friends to engage themselves into this great effort. We will work here in USA to get some more people involved with your program.

Thanking You
Cordially,
Zayan, Shaila & Javed A. Rahman
5017 Wesleyan Drive Woodstock,
Atlanta, Georgia 30189, USA.

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Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed with DCI Volunteers and field officers in Banglad

I visited Bangladesh on April 29, 2007. I was very satisfied to see the progress of our Sun-Child Sponsorship program. It was a great pleasure to discuss the details of our program with such experienced and dedicated volunteers. I am very excited about the future of this wonderful program. The work that is done is very useful and urgently necessary, and knowing that the money is used well, motivates us all to spread the word about the work that DCI does. I am so very proud to know that we are changing lives. I encourage the sponsors to visit their child so they can themselves see how they are helping distressed children.

Ziauddin Ahmed, MD
Vice President, DCI
6 Cedar Hollow Drive,
Rose Valley, Pennsylvania, PA 19086

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Mr. Harun Roshid is seeing the condition of street children in Dhaka city.

Mr. Harun Roshid visited DCI Project in Bangladesh in April-May, 2007. Here's Mr. Harun Roshid's comments: Every time I visit Bangladesh from USA, I'm shocked to see the desperately poor children every where. During my visit last April I felt a little bit of relief knowing we are trying to do something to help these children through DCI. I am very impressed with the DCI team in Bangladesh; a group of young people, completely dedicated to the well being of needy Bangladeshi children. With this team working there and all of us working here, I'm sure we'll make a difference. Please join us.

Md. Harun Roshid
DCI Atlanta Chapter Representative and sponsor,
170 Rockbridge Rd. LILBURN, Georgia, GA 30047

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Mr. Rehan Reza visited DCI Project in Bangladesh in May-June, 2007. Mr. Rehan Reza's Comments: I visited Bangladesh to observe the activities of DCI on May 26-June 17, 2007. I think truly fantastic work is being done. Everything is well organized. The DCI team is very effective and carries out their work with complete dedication. The work is truly incredible. I wish DCI all the success.

Rehan Reza
DCI Kansas Chapter Representative and sponsor,
President, Bangladesh Association of Greater Kansas city
3733 SW Cobblestone Place, TOPEKA, KS-66610

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Dr. Shamsad Begum Visited DCI Project in Bangladesh in June-July, 2007. She comments: As sponsor and one of the Advisers of DCI, I really wanted to visit Bangladesh to see DCI activities in Bangladesh. I am happy that I could make it. Now I realized that it was necessary for me to see with my own eyes what we are doing for these distressed children and their families. In my case, after my visit, I have made a commitment to establish an outdoor health clinic in Chittagong, Bangladesh through DCI. I want to devote myself more to this worthy cause.

Dr. Shamsad Begum
Adviser, DCI
1195 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

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Mr. Rabiul Karim visited DCI Project in Bangladesh in May-June, 2007. He comments: I am happy to see the great dedication of DCI team in Bangladesh. Excellent Job!! It was nice to see the many activities that are being carried out in Bangladesh through DCI. The children look very happy to be in school. I want to do something more for these children.

Rabiul Karim
Convener
FOBANA (Federation of Bangladesh Associations of North America)-2007
2645 M. Rushwood Ct., Wichita, KS, 67226

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