Preparation is the key

Portable cooking stoves and other utensils are helping women to prepare food during the flood [Jean Philippe Debus/CRS]

Caritas Bangladesh is CAFOD’s main partner in Bangladesh. CAFOD supports three of its programmes, on gender, forestry and HIV - especially training in these areas

The Gender and Development Programme has helped set up more than 2,400 groups with the aim of establishing equality between men and women.

The programme provides training in leadership skills and gender relations. It also operates a credit and savings scheme which helps women and men set up small businesses to improve their income.

The Social Forestry Programme has seen more than 80,000 saplings planted around houses, ponds, schools and alongside roads.

Fruit, timber and the produce of medicinal trees are distributed to those most in need.

Preventing an HIV epidemic

Bangladesh is in the early stages of a possible HIV epidemic. This is the period in which preventive measures could have most effect.

Caritas Bangladesh's HIV Programme has begun to develop a core group of trainers who will provide training on sexually transmitted infections, HIV and AIDS to its staff in order to sensitise them to HIV and AIDS issues, including ethical aspects.

The programme also works on policy and produces education materials.

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