Information Background of JFB :
Jessore Federation of the blind (JFB) A Self-help Groups Organization of Visually Impaired People has started its journey to the development path from 29 May 1987 and crossed 23 years of its development. Though there were lots of limitations and problems during the last twenty three years, the activities have not been stopped but continued its development efforts with own speed, where there were success and failures also. In the mean time, new thoughts and ideas have been introduced in our development interventions and created new innovative sustainable ideas. The demand and expectations of the people however have changed with the march of creative world leaving previous thoughts and expectations, which resulted innovation and addition of new development techniques.
We have been working hard entirely to turn the people into useful human resources and to spread their inner heart fully through increasing their fullest participation in development process. Empowerment of the poor and participation of the women side by side of their male partners are the precondition of our development process.
We are paying our heartiest regards to the respected Executive Committee and General Council Members, whose valuable advice and efforts encouraged and stimulated us. Remembering the field staff of both the lead NGO and the co-operating partners those have performed the difficult responsibilities at the grass root levels for making the programs effective and successful and paying cordial wishes and regards. We are grateful to the Donors, Advisors and the Government Administrations, Different Departments and the sister organizations for their cordial co-operation and supports for the implementation of the Organizational activities.
JFB, active in the country as a non-profit making, non-political, non-Government national organization of the Visually Impaired People duly registered by the social welfare ministry of Government of the People‘s Republic of Bangladesh was established in 1987 with the initiatives of a group of Visually Impaired and some non Visually Impaired philanthropic people. Since its inception, JFB has been working for the Visually Impaired persons in the country with the firm faith in the morals of working for the poorest strata of rural people irrespective of castes and creeds and the ideal of the service for them is to convert the Visually Impaired People into working hands towards self-reliance by self-doings to lead life with dignity and honor so that their rights and privileges are recognized and their opportunities to participate in the mainstream of national development activities are ensured.
To make the Visually Impaired People aware of their duties and responsibilities to their families, society and the state as true citizen, the JFB took up programs of their self development & Empowerment to materialize its objectives and goal. JFB works through its working potentials of (i) Identifying the Visually Impaired People through initial survey (ii) Enhancing the skills and ability of non-curable ones by appropriate and felt-needed training to strengthen the human creativity in them (iii) Activating their training skill through provision of liberal credit support as collective loan as a starting point of emancipation from social and economical bondage (iv) Referring the curable impaired persons to appropriate institutions i.e. other NGO, special clinics, hospitals nearby for restoration of their vision by treatment.
As per constitution of JFB Visually Impaired People have rights to express their views and ideas by participating in the decision making and implementation process of the organization. JFB gives importance on democratic values and social commitment of the Visually Impaired People. It cordially believes in that Visually Impaired People are inseparable part of the society, they are able to play active role in the mainstreaming development and nation-building activities by utilizing their skills and talents. JFB is very much careful and attentive to take up effective program for empowerment, inclusive development, self-reliance and independent living of the Visually Impaired People.
Target Beneficiaries :
Direct
Beneficiaries:
Visually
Impaired persons with special emphasis on children & women.
Distressed,
destitute people and disadvantaged peoples-especially women and children living
in both rural and urban areas.
Number of Beneficiaries: 3150 (Blind persons)
Indirect Beneficiaries:
Family members
of Visually Impaired persons & children.
Family members
of distressed and destitute persons living in both rural and urban areas.
All other
persons living in the same communities.
All employees
of JFB.
Area of Operation : At present, the area of
operation of JFB is All upazilla of Jessore district in Bangladesh.
Professional
Staff of JFB:12
Volunteer 18.
Overall Control of Activities of the Organization : The whole of the Work Plan,
Annual Budget, Activities and Financial Report are discussed threadbare and
approved by the General Council in its Annual General Meetings held every year
also major decision regarding organization and its beneficiaries/ members are
taken by the general council. The Executive committee and general counsel of
JFB both are bound to perform their responsibilities and duties as per
constitution of the organization.
Executive Summary
Bangladesh,
being the most densely populated and one of the poorest countries in the world,
the disables stand no chance of opportunity in life, especially if the person
is poor and female. Out of 23 lakh people in Jessore district, approximately
15.6% populations are Visually Impaired. Bangladesh government has sets of
rules and welfare systems to provide assistance but it does not sufficient for
this group. JFB, (Jessore Ondho Songhtha) a NGO, free from any political
influences and benefits, was founded with a view to bring an end of suffering of
this group, give them status and create a society where everyone will be
respected. We believe everyone has a duty as a human, a duty within self and a
duty towards others, keeping this sincere and honest approach; we concentrate
our main activities to improve the Socio Economic status for the most
disadvantage group (poor destitute population) and people with disability. We started as a small
organization but our honest and sincere efforts of our Executives, stuffs and
volunteers are enabling us to help more
and more disadvantage groups every day and grow bigger. Currently, the
activities of the organization are concentrating in all upazillas of Jessore
district of of Bangladesh.
In the
meantime, JFB has successfully completed over 34 years of its development
interventions in the field of rehabilitation and education of the persons with
disability. During the period of 24 years the organization had to confront
various odd situations and obstacles in the pursuits of its activities. This
specified information / report is an honest and modest effort to publicize all
its attempts undertaken to survive as a development of the Visually Impaired
persons and the progress made in the period of reporting. So the report at its present form provides a
momentary view of the organization’s own profile and its involvement,
experiences, lessons learnt, obstacles faced with etc during the implementation
of the concerned programs. JFB is
operating and implementing is programs for the development of disable people.
