portrait Bangladesh Dolly

DHAKA, Bangladesh, 15 March 2006 -- Dolly Akter has a simple theory: "Life is for help." The 16-year-old will have a chance to help and influence many people this week when she takes part in the Children's World Water Forum in Mexico City.

Dolly was selected from among 6,000 adolescent girls involved in a UNICEF project to improve environmental sanitation, hygiene and water supply in urban slums. As one of more than 100 young people representing over 30 nations at the forum, she will give a presentation about her leadership role in an adolescent girls' hygiene-monitoring group. The group has begun to transform her slum neighbourhood in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

"Before, it was such a dirty and undeveloped area," says Dolly. "Nowadays it is different. We try to develop our area quickly through our work."

Dolly and her friends go from house to house checking that people are washing their hands after defecation and before eating, using sanitary latrines and drinking only clean, covered water. Improved hygiene behaviours and new latrines in the neighbourhood have halved the incidence of diarrhoea. And Dolly says the slum's children laugh and play more now that they are healthier.

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• Life
• is
• for
• help
• 16
• year
• old
• Children's
• World
• Water
• Forum

[ritubahar]

Why are these foreign UNICEF staff reporting in Bangladesh while me being a Bangladeshi couldn't find a job with the UN once when I tried? Why are these foreigners given thick salaries for these reports while a highly qulaified Bangladeshi like me doesn't have a job?

[doghartdon]

@qpeeeee why u swearing for this is good for our country man

[2542306616]

A very brave and smart bangoly girl ...



[qpeeeee]

amar baal

[lenydls74]

how i wish i could go to bangladesh someday!

[sidkings]

Maashallah, now thats what you call empowerment and forward thinking. Dolly for prime minister ;-) May Allah fulfill your ambitions..AMEEN

[noelkorea1]

may God bless this young girl

[11101983omega]

May ALLAH fullfill your dreams, because in your dreams is a better and healthy life for all of us. thank you for your sacrifice and hard work.