Community Transformation Programme

The aim of the Community Transformation Programme is to mobilise a community from its grassroots. The community takes ownership of their responsibility for their health and wellbeing.

LAMB has an impact on household and neighbourhood decision making through its core community activities - household visits and women’s group meetings. Women’s groups have been very successful in addressing issues of importance to them. Other types of groups also are trained to plan initiatives around the 4 A’s: Awareness raising, Action, Alliance Building, and Advocacy.

‘Transformation’ language energized and focused planning of mechanisms to address social determinants of health such as education (including through LAMB School), ending child marriage, and supporting livelihoods and the environment. LAMB will continue building community resilience, with communities and church groups helping neighbours through floods or when needs arise.

Community Projects Reduce Social Risks to Health

Community groups (of various memberships, eg women, adolescents, parents, neighbourhoods) generally follow a strategy called Participatory Action Research, which promotes learning-by-doing. Groups have successfully advocated with local governments for improved roads and street lighting enabling women to travel to antenatal clinics safely. And for young women to return from school safely in the evening time.

The capacity of the groups are determined by themselves. More than 50% of the groups scored themselves as capable of independent functioning, holding meetings, making decisions, keeping cash-books and meeting minutes.

Women’s social well-being is developed through women’s groups. These are formed through various women and child health projects. Women are involved in conflict resolution and reduction of social barriers to health such as dowry, early marriage and family violence. The groups practice micro-finance, to offer one another support when funds are needed for school fees, to access health services, or to improve their home environments.

Church and Community Transformation Project provides social support through activating scripture study and church groups of all ages to reach out to neighbours.

Shyamol Bangla (Green Bangla) is a waste management project running on a pilot basis to improve recycling of organic waste (into biogas) and solid waste into usable products. The activities also allow income generation for vulnerable women, including people living in slums.

Health Focused Disaster Risk Reduction in Kurigram District helps local residents prepare for the regular floods which devastate the lives of those with little margin.

Ending Child Marriage Project in Parbatipur sub-district (immediately around LAMB Hospital) works with adolescent groups, their parents, and other influential persons to build life skills and mutual understanding of issues which contribute to early marriage.

Education: improving the access to primary, secondary and post-graduate education.