About ECDO
Profile of Ethnic Community Development Organization
Ethnic Community Development Organization (ECDO) is a Local Non-Government and Non-profit organization established by some dedicated individuals from different ethnic communities in the Sylhet region, North-East Bangladesh. ECDO was founded in 2002 and is the only organization working especially for ethnic communities in three Upazillas of Sylhet District.
Organizational Vision
ECDO envisages a society where empowered, educated, aware and culturally diverse indigenous groups are able to ensure their own human development free from discrimination, poverty and exploitation.
Mission
ECDO’s mission is to assist indigenous communities in working for a positive and sustainable change for those deprived of rights and opportunities by implementing both service delivery and rights based approaches. ECDO implements its activities in a fully participatory and bottom-up approach with an emphasis on empowerment from within the indigenous communities.
Organizational Policies
Strategy
The overall strategy of ECDO is to work with Manipuri, Khasi, Patro and Tea Labor communities by offering them a platform to raise their voice and launch their ideas. ECDO ensure strong participation of the community in planning, implementation, budgeting and consultation. It strives to create a sense of community ownership by encouraging community contributions to projects, creating a self sustainable support mechanism.
Strategic Focus Area
- Promoting quality education for indigenous children.
- Promoting a conscious and aware attitude to general Health and specifically HIV/AIDS issues.
- Ensuring safe drinking water and sanitary practices for all.
- Promoting democracy & human rights, particularly for ethnic minorities & indigenous peoples.
Objectives of Strategic Focus Areas
- To ensure all indigenous community children have access to their right to quality education.
- To ensure accessibility of sustainable health services for all indigenous communities.
- To ensure a sustainable change in hygienic and sanitary behavior and access to safe drinking water for all indigenous communities.
- To empower indigenous peoples to raise their voice and increase their capacity.
- To create awareness among indigenous communities so that they are able to practice their rights, culture and are united.
Main Activities
ECDO runs a varied program of activities in their project areas, with the assistance of foreign donors and the communities themselves. Please click the links for more information.
- Free Education Material Distribution
- Education Support Centers (ESC)
- Free Medical Camp
- Hygiene Workshops
- DIGNITY (Reproductive health capacity building)
- HIV/AIDS Awareness Building
- Rain Water Harvesting Plants (RWHP)
- Research and Publications
- Legal aid support
- Advocacy and Lobbying for democracy & human rights