A women leadership training was organized by ECDO during 10th -12th December 2011 in Sylhet. Twenty five women representatives from different indigenous Community Based Organizations (CBO) for women participated in the training. The main objective of this training was to develop their capacity to ensure women empowerment in the society. Advocate Sayeda Shirin Akhter, Divisional head of Sylhet Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) was present as the chief facilitator in the training. Advocate Zakia Jalal lawyer of Sylhet district Judge Court was also present as a facilitator of this three day long training. In this training session topics on women’s leadership, concept of development, present status of women on the context of Bangladesh, a brief discussion on violence against women, CEDAW, negative impact of early marriage etc were widely discussed before the participants. Two video clips related to women’s rights & violence against women was also shown as part of training session. At the last day, as part of the closing session, S. Rina Devi, President, Bangladesh Manipuri Mahila Samity, shared her experience how indigenous people fight for their rights and as woman how much struggle is to ensure rights. In his concluding speech, Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh Executive Director of ECDO, requested all participants to ensure proper utilization of knowledge and skills what they have learnt in the training for establish women rights in their respective societies for stopping violence against women and for ensuring their rights. This training program was organized by ECDO under its Support to Indigenous Peoples in Plain Land- SIPPL project funded by Oxfam GB.

A workshop was organized by ECDO on the importance of bi-lingual education for indigenous children. The workshop was held in a hotel conference hall at Sylhet city chaired by Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh Executive Director of ECDO on 28th November 2011. Community leaders, and influential personalities of indigenous groups in Sylhet area was the key participants of the workshop. As well as members of civil society, teachers and NGO representatives were also present in the workshop. Mr. N M Ziaul Alam, Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet Division was present as Chief Guest in that workshop. Mr. Khan Md. Bilal, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet, Mr. Abdur Rahman, Divisional Deputy Director of Primary Education department was also present as special guest.

Professor Dr. Faisal Ahmmed of Social Work department, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet presented key paper through multimedia presentation on the importance of bilingual education for indigenous children especially at primary level.  At the beginning of the workshop a presentation was also delivered by Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh about some achievement of community teachers’ recruitment project in government primary schools by ECDO since 2008 at Goainghat Upozela under Sylhet district. In his presentation he showed the gradual progress of indigenous children in the respective schools after recruitment of local indigenous teachers.

Just after this presentation Professor Faisal presented his key paper before the audience. He addressed the difficulties and challenges that are frequently encountered by indigenous children at the time of receiving primary education. Referring research findings he pointed out that mainly due to language barriers many of indigenous children can not continue education or can not learn school lesson properly.  In his presentation he shows why indigenous teacher is important for the better learning of indigenous student.

Mr. N M Ziaul Alam, Chief Guest of the workshop appreciated ECDO’s community teachers’ recruitment project. He ranked ECDO as an excellent organization which is doing very good job for ensuring primary education for indigenous children. Further he comments that the government should replicate ECDO’s model and can recruit indigenous teacher for ensuring quality education as well as to reduce drop-out rate among indigenous children. Mr. Khan Md. Bilal, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet assured ECDO for any kind of assistance in relation with their education project.  Mr. Abdur Rahaman Especial Guest also appreciated for the initiative taken by ECDO for better education of indigenous children. As a responsible person he showed his commitment to cooperate ECDO for continuing their project. This workshop was organized by ECDO with the support from Oxfam GB under Support to Indigenous Peoples in Plan Land – SIPPL project.

12 days long Skilled Development Training on Sewing, Block, Boutique was held on 19-30 November 2011 at Alaibahar & Bhararhat, Khadimnagar, Sylhet. The training session inaugurated by Mr. Abdul Mannan, Upozilla Youth Officer of Sylhet Sadar. The training session was inaugurated by Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh, Executive Director of ECDO with the Khadimnagor Union Member  Md. Nazim Uddin Imran as the special guest.

Chief Guest Mr. Abdul Mannan in his speech expressed his thanks to ECDO for this type of training session which will help to develop the adolescents skills . The training was a joint initiative of ECDO and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) under Development Initiative to Promote Transforming Youth and Adolescents (DIPTYA) Project. A total number of 40 female adolescents took participate in these trainings.