The Global Connections and Exchange for Bangladesh promotes integration of technology into Bangladeshi schools, including teacher capacity development in terms of both technical skills and teaching methodology. The program's main goals are to increase global dialogue and educational opportunities by installing modern computer equipment with Internet access in schools, and to develop training and learning projects for teachers and students. The GCE is designed to promote equity of access to technology in a region lacking technological resources and enabling infrastructure. The Internet Learning Centers set up under the program have emerged as a community resource, and are managed as a community asset, with the goal of sustainable income-offset operation within a five year window.
The project has produced a replicable telecenter model which has enabled access and learning for 47 core schools after the addition of 20 D.Net Schools.
ICT and Youth Grant 2008;
GLOBE Inception Workshop held in Dhaka;
RI-SOL joins hands with D. NET for GCEP Expansion;
Focus Group Discussion on “Youth Involvement in Civic Engineering and Volunteerism”;
UNESCAP Bangkok officials visit GCEP ILC etc…
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Call for Application: Technology Volunteer Camp Training- October 2008 Upcoming!
Relief International is pleased to inform the GCEP students that it is organizing a three – day long residential Technology Volunteer Camp this October at TARC, Savar in Dhaka. During the camp, students will learn about the various uses of technology in Youth activism and receive leadership training by engaging in various group activities. This training will enhance their knowledge with regard to integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education, learning, community development and civic engagement. Read More
Technology Volunteer Corps Training Program in Chittagong NEW!
RI-SOL conducted a training program for the GCEP Chitaggong cluster from 21st of July till 23rd of July 2008 under the “Technology Volunteer Corps Training Program” . The training was held at the GCE ILC in Wireless Jhawtala Colony High School. There were a total of 18 participants consisting of students, teachers and community users from two schools namely Wireless Jawtala Colony High School and Pahartali Girls’ High School. The purpose of this training was to develop their dexterity in ICT use plus provide necessary management support to their respective ILCs. The training covered various relevant issues including Hardware assembling, operating system and software installation, setting up Internet Connection, Email, Website browsing, Web Blog etc. Read More Media Coverage Photo Gallery
RI-SOL Joins Hands with D. Net for GCEP Expansion NEW!
Relief International- Schools Online (RI-SOL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with D. Net (Development Research Network) on 26th of July 2008 to implement the Global Connection and Exchange Program through 20 school based Computer Learning Centers (CLC) in Bangladesh. RI SOL will support D Net to connect the 20 CLCs to the Internet This co-operation will also focus on GCE activities which include online collaborative projects coordinated centrally by RI-SOL Dhaka and USA office, Teacher Professional Development (TPD) training, ICT Youth Leadership Training, Technology Volunteer Corps, International teachers and students exchange etc. This agreement marks a significant leap for RI-SOL in expanding GCE activities across the country. Read More Media Coverage 1 Media Coverage 2 Media Coverage 3
Focus Group Discussion on “Youth Involvement in Civic Engagement and Volunteerism” NEW!
Students of Rani Bilashmoni Government Boys School, Sirajuddin Sarkar Vidya Niketon and Joydepur girls High School participated in a group discussion on “Youth Involvement in Civic Engagement and Volunteerism” held at the ILC in Rani Bilashmoni Government Boys High School on 7th July 2008. The objective behind this forum was to get an overview about Youth’s mindset with regard to Civic Engagement, Volunteerism, Social awareness and its contribution to the social development.Read More
i EARN visits Relief International NEW!
On Thursday July 17, 2008 Ms. Farah S. Kamal, Country Director of iEARN-Pakistan and Dr. Edwin Gragert, Executive Director of iEARN-USA visited Relief International- Schools Online (RI-SOL) in Bangladesh for mutual discussion on working collectively in future. iEARN ( International Education and Resource Network), based in the USA, is a non profit organization working in 115 countries.
Teacher Professional Development Training in Comilla NEW!
As part of the Global Connection and Exchange initiative, a Teacher Professional Development (TPD) training session was held at the ILC of Yusuf Multipurpose Technical High School on the 29th and 30th of June 2008. The objective of this training was to ensure that the teachers were well-equipped with enhanced skills to incorporate the use of ICT in their teaching methods. Read More
Winning Projects of Environment Day 2008 Competition NEW!
In order to encourage GCE students to engage in environment activism, RI SOL GLOBE program organised a competition on the occasion of this year’s Environmental Day. Participants of this year’s Environment Day celebration were invited to write a one page Project Concept Note on any environmental issues. Twenty students submitted their entries on various topics ranging from tree plantation and classroom cleaning to community awareness on environmental issues. Five best project concept notes were selected as winners of the competition. RI SOL GLOBE Program Team will collaborate with the winners to implement the winning projects. Read More and Wining List
UNESCAP Bangkok officials visit GCE ILC at Uttar Badda Madrasa
Officials from United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Bangkok recently visited a GCE Internet Learning Center at Uttar Badda Kamil Madrasa in Dhaka cluster. During the visit, Mr. Clovis Freire and Dr. John Timothy Denny from Information, Communication and Space Technology Division at the UNESCAP met a group of GCE students and teachers at the ILC. Read More More Photos
International research team visits GCE ILC in Gazipur NEW!
On 5 June, 2008, an international research team visited the GCE Internet Learning Center (ILC) at Rani Bilashmoni High School in Gazipur. The team met GCE students, teachers, community members and RI SOL staffs to discuss impacts of access to information on schools and communities. The visit was a part of an international study on public access to information being carried out jointly by Washington University in the USA, Development and Research Network and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee in Bangladesh. The participating countries in the study are Bangladesh, Nicaragua and Chile.Read More
GCE Students March to End Child Hunger
On 1st June 2008, more than one thousand GCE students from 22 schools in Dhaka, Gazipur, Chittagong, Comilla, Jessore, Kustia in Bangladesh joined the "Walk the World 2008", a global event to raise awareness about child hunger. The largest Walk took place in Dhaka which was joined by more than 500 children, celebrities, staffs of UN agencies in Bangladesh, Standard Chartered Bank, TNT and Hellen Keller. GCE Students from Rani Bilashmoni School in Gazipur joined the grand Walk in Dhaka which was coordinated by the WFP. The other grand rally took place in Jessore which was attended by three GCE schools in the region.Read More
Walk the World 2008
Date :1 June, 2008
Venue: All GCE core, partner and associate schools in Bangladesh
RI-SOL in collaboration with the UN World Food Program in Bangladesh will organize a number of events/activities to celebrate the Walk the World 2008 throughout its network of schools across Bangladesh. Walk the World is the world's largest annual global fundraising event and was first launched by TNT in 2004. This year On June 1st, WFP together with its corporate partners TNT and Unilever will once again take to the streets to raise funds and awareness for the 59 million children that attend primary school hungry. For more information on the event: Click Here Read More
Second GLOBE Teacher Workshop Held in Dhaka
The Second GLOBE Workshop was held at RI Dhaka office on 12th May, 2008. The overall objective of the workshop was to introduce the GLOBE program to newly recruited GLOBE Lead Teachers and to discuss GLOBE protocol in implementing the project activities in Bangladeshi schools. The day long workshop was attended by existing GLOBE Lead Teachers as well as the newly recruited GLOBE Lead Teachers. A total of six teachers attended the workshop. Ms. Lazina Sharmin, Education and Exchange Coordinator and RI GLOBE Coordinator moderated the workshop while the GLOBE Coordinator for Bangladesh, Mr. Habibur Rahman conducted several sessions on issues such as protocol of the GLOBE, lesson plan strategy on hydrology and data entry methods on GLOBE web portal. Mr. Rahman also demonstrated use of Global Positioning System ( GPS) to the workshop participants. Read More
GCE Bangladesh Celebrates GYSD 2008
As part of the Global Connections and Exchange Program, Relief International observed the 9th Global Youth Service Day 2008 in April throughout its GCE school network in Bangladesh. This year GYSD was celebrated by 23 GCE schools in Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Jessore, Khulna, Bagerhat, Kustia, Tongi, Rangunia and Gazipur. The participating schools organized a number of community service projects ranging from students rally to project on Global Warming, from women education project to group discussion on disaster management and preparedness. Read More GYSD 2008 Picture Gallery
International Online Conference on Agenda 21
On 8 May 2008, three GCE students from Yusuf Multipurpose School in Comilla, British American Technology and Management Institute in Dhaka and Pahartali Girls High School in Chittagong participated in the Agenda 21, an international online conference hosted by him German UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet Germany) and the Baltic Sea Project. The theme for the conference was Transport and Communication Developing the 21st Century . To learn more about the online conference, please visit: agenda21now Read More
GCE Bangladesh selected as a finalist for Stockholm Challenge Award 2008
GCE Bangladesh program has ben selected as one of the finalists for the Stockholm Challenge Award 2008 . The Stockholm Challenge Award is an ICT for development programme at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden. It culminates in the Challenge Week Event, May 19-22, 2008. The Stockholm Challenge 2008 features a six category Award for ICT for Development projects. The best projects will win the prestigious Stockholm Challenge trophies. The prize ceremony will take place in the City Hall on May 22, in the evening. An extended program of workshops, conference, study visits and social gatherings will bring together the most inspiring ICT entrepreneurs, researchers and students from all over the world to share experiences and knowledge.Read More
Bangladeshi Students Celebrates Earth Day 2008
GCE students in Bangladesh joined the global celebration of the Earth Day through web chat, public rally and Internet research on environment, tree plantation in school campus and focus group discussion. Three GLOBE schools in Dhaka and Comilla cluster celebrated the Earth Day on 22 April 2008. The activities undertaken by the students, teachers and community members were aimed at raising awareness about the importance of the Earth Day and the role youth can play in protecting our Mother Earth. Read More
Worldwide Freedom for the Worldwide Web: U.S. Efforts to Protect Internet Freedom
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice established the Global Internet Freedom Task Force (GIFT) in February 2006 as an internal State Department coordination group to address challenges to freedom of expression and the free flow of information on the Internet. GIFT's core aims are to maximize freedom of expression and the free flow of information and ideas, to minimize the success of repressive regimes in censoring and silencing legitimate debate, and to promote Internet access.Read More
Bangladeshi students discusses US Election in international online Forum
In March, two GCE schools in Bangladesh ( Sirajuddin Sarker Vidyaniketan and British American Technology and Management Institute in Dhaka cluster) took part in a vibrant online discussion on United States Elections and Presidential Race hosted by IREX Washington DC. The online forum started on March 24 and run through March 28, 2008.Michelle Austin and George Burkes jointly moderated the online forum. George Burkes has worked as a reference specialist for the US State Department in the Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) for three-and-a-half years. Prior to working at the State Department, he worked for twelve years for the Congressional Research Service. Read More
International Women Day celebrated in Bangladesh
On 8 March 2008, several GCE schools in Bangladesh organized day long activities including rally, open discussion about the womens right and the present situation of women in family, society & country to celebrate IWD. More than 250 students, community members and teachers attended various activities to commemorate the day.Photo Gallery
GCE Students participated in Human Rights and Journalism Camp in Dhaka
Relief International organized a Youth Journalism and Human Rights camp as a part of its ongoing project titled 'Media Access and Education for Human Rights: Bangladesh'. The project is aimed at making the marginalized youth and communities aware of the power of media to influence society and making media accessible to them. The project targets the rural and semi urban youths, local journalists, media professionals and the public at large, and implements enabling technologies appropriate to the existing infrastructure. More information on the project can be found at www.media-humanrights.org. This project is built on ECA supported Global Connections and Exchange. Read More Photo Gallery
Award giving Ceremony for ICT and Youth Grant Held in Dhaka
On 20 March, 2008, a group of enthusiastic students gathered at RI Dhaka office to receive ICT and Youth Grant Award. Ten winners from Comilla, Chittagong, Jessore and Dhaka attended the day long event took place at RI Dhaka office. The winners also participated in some group activities including presentation of action plan and key activities of the winning projects. A session on web site creation using free blog site such as wordpress and blogpost was also part of the event. Winners committed that they would publicize their project activities through websites and community meetings. Photo Gallery
Winners of ICT and Youth Grant Announced
After a long and anxious wait, the results of the ICT and Youth Grant are finally announced. RI SOL invited applications from Bangladeshi youth (up to 18 years old) to participate in an ICT and Youth Grant competition. (Please find the announcement here.) The grant competition is part of Global Connections and Exchange Program-Bangladesh. The GCE is a project of Relief International-Schools Online which has set up internet enabled computer centers in 27 schools in 10 districts in Bangladesh to facilitate ICT based education and cross cultural projects for students, teachers and communities.Read More
GLOBE Inception Workshop held in Dhaka
The Inception workshop on the GLOBE project was held on 4 February 2008 at RI Bangladesh Country Office in Dhaka. The key objective of the day long workshop was to introduce the GLOBE to the participating students and teachers in Bangladesh. GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science and education program. GLOBE's vision is to promote and support students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment and the Earth system working in close partnership with NASA and NSF Earth System Science Projects in study and research about the dynamics of Earth's environment. Read More
Podcast: Scenes from a Bangladeshi Telecentre
Check out Andy Carvin's video montage of a RI-SOL telecenter based in Chowara Girls School at Comilla from this link:
February 2008 So You Think You Can Dance? (Global)
This lesson plan shows students how traditional dancing is a unique cultural tradition in many societies, yet connected to other traditions in many ways. This lesson also requires students to think of the role cultural dance plays in their community, and to help revive the importance of cultural dance. Students will interact with other youth participating in cultural dance in other countries. They will engage the youth in conversation about the similarities between traditions. Students will also visit local organizations that practice and promote traditional dance. The plan culminates with a project documenting what they have learned. Students will take photographs and make documentaries about traditional dance, and possibly even document themselves performing cultural dance. 2007 Online Projects
The Global Connections and Exchange Project – Bangladesh is a project of Relief International - Schools Online's Global Citizenship & Youth Philanthropy Program and has been made possible with major funding from the United States State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Global Catalyst Foundation.
RI-SOL conducted a training program for the GCEP Chitaggong cluster from 21st of July till 23rd of July 2008 under the “Technology Volunteer Corps Training Program” . The training was held at the GCE ILC in Wireless Jhawtala Colony High School. There were a total of 18 participants consisting of students, teachers and community users from two schools namely Wireless Jawtala Colony High School and Pahartali Girls’ High School. The purpose of this training was to develop their dexterity in ICT use plus provide necessary management support to their respective ILCs. The training covered various relevant issues including Hardware assembling, operating system and software installation, setting up Internet Connection, Email, Website browsing, Web Blog etc.
Relief International- Schools Online (RI-SOL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with D. Net (Development Research Network) on 26th of July 2008 to implement the Global Connection and Exchange Program through 20 school based Computer Learning Centers (CLC) in Bangladesh. RI SOL will support D Net to connect the 20 CLCs to the Internet This co-operation will also focus on GCE activities which include online collaborative projects coordinated centrally by RI-SOL Dhaka and USA office, Teacher Professional Development (TPD) training, ICT Youth Leadership Training, Technology Volunteer Corps, International teachers and students exchange etc. This agreement marks a significant leap for RI-SOL in expanding GCE activities across the country.
Students of Rani Bilashmoni Government Boys School, Sirajuddin Sarkar Vidya Niketon and Joydepur girls High School participated in a group discussion on “Youth Involvement in Civic Engagement and Volunteerism” held at the ILC in Rani Bilashmoni Government Boys High School on 7th July 2008. The objective behind this forum was to get an overview about Youth’s mindset with regard to Civic Engagement, Volunteerism, Social awareness and its contribution to the social development.
On Thursday July 17, 2008 Ms. Farah S. Kamal, Country Director of iEARN-Pakistan and Dr. Edwin Gragert, Executive Director of iEARN-USA visited Relief International- Schools Online (RI-SOL) in Bangladesh for mutual discussion on working collectively in future. iEARN ( International Education and Resource Network), based in the USA, is a non profit organization working in 115 countries.
As part of the Global Connection and Exchange initiative, a Teacher Professional Development (TPD) training session was held at the ILC of Yusuf Multipurpose Technical High School on the 29th and 30th of June 2008. The objective of this training was to ensure that the teachers were well-equipped with enhanced skills to incorporate the use of ICT in their teaching methods. 
Officials from United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Bangkok recently visited a GCE Internet Learning Center at Uttar Badda Kamil Madrasa in Dhaka cluster. During the visit, Mr. Clovis Freire and Dr. John Timothy Denny from Information, Communication and Space Technology Division at the UNESCAP met a group of GCE students and teachers at the ILC. 
On 5 June, 2008, an international research team visited the GCE Internet Learning Center (ILC) at Rani Bilashmoni High School in Gazipur. The team met GCE students, teachers, community members and RI SOL staffs to discuss impacts of access to information on schools and communities. The visit was a part of an international study on public access to information being carried out jointly by Washington University in the USA, Development and Research Network and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee in Bangladesh. The participating countries in the study are Bangladesh, Nicaragua and Chile.
On 1st June 2008, more than one thousand GCE students from 22 schools in Dhaka, Gazipur, Chittagong, Comilla, Jessore, Kustia in Bangladesh joined the "Walk the World 2008", a global event to raise awareness about child hunger. The largest Walk took place in Dhaka which was joined by more than 500 children, celebrities, staffs of UN agencies in Bangladesh, Standard Chartered Bank, TNT and Hellen Keller. GCE Students from Rani Bilashmoni School in Gazipur joined the grand Walk in Dhaka which was coordinated by the WFP. The other grand rally took place in Jessore which was attended by three GCE schools in the region.
Date :1 June, 2008 
The Second GLOBE Workshop was held at RI Dhaka office on 12th May, 2008. The overall objective of the workshop was to introduce the GLOBE program to newly recruited GLOBE Lead Teachers and to discuss GLOBE protocol in implementing the project activities in Bangladeshi schools. 
GCE students in Bangladesh joined the global celebration of the Earth Day through web chat, public rally and Internet research on environment, tree plantation in school campus and focus group discussion. Three GLOBE schools in Dhaka and Comilla cluster celebrated the Earth Day on 22 April 2008. The activities undertaken by the students, teachers and community members were aimed at raising awareness about the importance of the Earth Day and the role youth can play in protecting our Mother Earth. 
The Inception workshop on the GLOBE project was held on 4 February 2008 at RI Bangladesh Country Office in Dhaka. The key objective of the day long workshop was to introduce the GLOBE to the participating students and teachers in Bangladesh. GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science and education program. GLOBE's vision is to promote and support students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment and the Earth system working in close partnership with NASA and NSF Earth System Science Projects in study and research about the dynamics of Earth's environment.
