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Full List
 The July Newsletter has been published, please download it from here.
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 It sounds like an air freshener, but the acronym RI-SOL derived from the merger of Relief International (RI) and Schools Online (SOL). Since 1990, RI has worked in “bridging and transitional” programs working with and supporting communities and societies in transition from crisis through to recovery and development and from centralized economic systems to sustainable market-based societies.
 SOL was founded in 1996 by several influential leaders of the IT community in California’s Silicon Valley. Since then, SOL has been a leader in the installation and integration of IT in education. Over 5,700 schools in the US and 1,300 schools in almost 40 countries have benefited from the provision of computers and Internet connectivity. In the last three years, SOL has complemented its provision of technology and Internet access with an extensive professional development program for teachers. To ensure long-term sustainability, all programs are designed with the participation of teachers, school administrators, local communities, and relevant governmental agencies. RI-SOL has been involved in projects involving technology, education, and civic education in the following countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Macedonia, and Tajikistan.
 Bangladesh has identified ICT (Information and Communication Technology) as a thrust sector for both industry and education, the government hopes to recapitulate the success of its neighbor, India, and become a competitor in the global information service industry. However, Bangladesh has a long way to go. It is among the poorest countries in the world, and is unequaled in population density. The country struggles with inadequate health care, high unemployment rates and alarmingly high illiteracy rates. Issues of governance, civil disorder and the perception of increasing religious intolerance make foreigners wary of investing in Bangladesh.
 It is clear that if Bangladesh is going to become a player in the world information industry, it will have to help itself. The next generation will need skills including general familiarity with computer hardware, a good sense of how to use common desktop applications, a command of the internet and its tools, and the ability to use English as an international language. Already, Bangladesh has taken steps to make this happen: it has waived tax on the import of computer equipment and instituted a compulsory computer class in high schools. However, the effectiveness of its computer curriculum is crippled by a general lack of hardware, and equally, by a dearth of teachers familiar with computers.
The RI-SOL program is designed to promote ICT education in a catalytic manner, to accelerate what has already begun in Bangladesh and help the country realize its aspirations. The program makes it possible for schools to obtain computer equipment and an internet connection, and to train teachers in their use. Each center works with its surrounding community to develop a sustainability plan. After a year and half, the school continues its program on its own and serves as a model for surrounding schools.
The GCEP project has arrived in Bangladesh at an auspicious time in the country’s IT development. Computer technology and internet access are becoming available throughout the country, and the country’s access to the internet will explode within the next two years as high-capacity fiberoptic trunks are put in place.
Additionally, the tools to promote computer use in Bangladesh are just now coming to market. In the last year, both Microsoft and Linux developers released Bangla-localized versions of their operating systems. The Unicode standard which will serve as the basis for global exchange of documents in Bangla has matured, and fonts have been developed to express the full range of Bangla ligatures. Whereas the majority of computer users in Bangladesh are relatively well-off and are facile in English, general adoption of computer technology will require development of educational materials and resources in Bangla, and instruction by Bangla-speaking teachers skilled in computer use. One of the goals of the RI-SOL program is to develop this local content and expertise by training educators in the integration of ICT into their curricula.
Outside of the capital city, Dhaka, we have found that the majority of people have yet to realize the full potential of computer technology — this is particularly true in the education sector. While Cyber Cafés can be found in almost every district center, they are mainly used for email, chatting, watching movies and web browsing. Few businesses outside of Dhaka use computer technology, very few schools have computers (although a government-mandated computer course is required for all Class 9 students), and the user group base has not expanded much beyond young men. The technology is available, however it is has not yet been integrated into these communities and their lifestyles, and is therefore not being used to its full potential. The Global Connections and Exchange Project aims to introduce technology not only to students and to teachers but to all community members, thereby integrating technology into our target communities and diversifying the technology user base.
Several organizations have proposed plans to promote ICT-education in rural communities, some based around a community model and some based around a school model. The present iteration of the RI-SOL plan is a hybrid which combines the best of both models. The model is based on ten years of practical experience rolling out similar programs in other developing countries.
Sustainability is a key concept for the program. RI-SOL acknowledges that technology changes and computers become obsolete; the centers are designed to be self-renewing and to keep pace with technology while not imposing a burden on their community.
By working closely with Bangladeshi schools, teachers and their communities, RI-SOL will help Bangladesh achieve its goals in ICT education.
 The Global Connections and Exchange Project is a US State Department-sponsored program which enhances youth educational opportunities by facilitating access to technology and Internet resources, by providing extensive teacher training, and collaborative online projects for students. The project develops civic participation and engagement among youth through educational projects based on community involvement, global citizenship, and awareness of current events, and cross-cultural issues. The project leverages the existing worldwide network of schools previously involved in RI-SOL’s educational projects in more than 40 countries throughout the world.
Opening an ILC takes months of preparation on the part of both the schools and RI-SOL. Schools are first canvassed for interest in participation in the GCEP program. At first, school administrators may not realize that the program is more than just putting computers in a room, but involves an ongoing plan to sustain a center that will become a resource for both the school’s students and its community. It is a large commitment on both the part of RI-SOL and the school, and creates a long-term relationship that puts demands on the goodwill and trust of both partners.
The ball is then in the school’s court. School administrators must complete an application. They must agree to allow unimpeded access to their facility by both girls and boys, and to participate in the educational and cultural exchange programs facilitated by RI-SOL.
Then, they must identify community members that will voice support for the new centers. The school must agree to make the ILC available for the use of community groups when it is not otherwise being used by its own students. Parents and teachers also have a voice in the running of the ILC, through a School Management Committee (SMC or PTA).
In the long run, each center is expected to become a self-sustaining entity. We realize that this will take some time, but encourage the schools to produce a draft plan even before the program begins. During the application process, each school must form a community committee, composed of local stakeholders. This committee will be responsible for monitoring the sustainability plan, adding locally relevant programming, promoting community use of the center, and holding the school accountable to the community that it serves.
When the application is completed, the RI-SOL country office reviews the application and evaluates it in the context of geographical coverage, equity of access to the site, number of students and community members served, and unique circumstances of each site. Every effort is made to select schools that will benefit vulnerable populations and those that would otherwise not have access to computer technology and the Internet.
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Relief International’s project, the Global Connections and Exchange Program-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 GCEP is designed to promote equity of access to technology in a region lacking technological resources and enabling infrastructure. The Internet Learning Centers, set up in secondary schools and madrasas (religious schools) under the program, have emerged as a community resource, and are managed as a community asset.
For more information on other RI projects in Bangladesh please visit: RI projects in Bangladesh
To learn more about RI's global operations, please visit RI homepage at www.ri.org
Scene from an ILC in Bangladesh(Podcast)
Read or download the latest brochure on RI-SOL's school based telecenter project in Bangladesh (PDF version)
Read Digital Learning article ' Three generations of school- based telecenters: A look inside the RI-SOL Bangladesh Project'
Upcoming Video Conference between Bangladesh and USA on Status of Women NEW!
Students of Waterloo Junior High School, IL, USA and students of Chowara Girls’ High School, Comilla, Bangladesh are looking forward to participating in an upcoming video conference on 10th March 2010 .The topic of the video conference is ‘Status of Women’ and GCE students of Bangladesh will present queries to their US counterparts about women living in their country, and vice versa. It is set to be a very exciting event where not only students and teachers will be participating, but even parents of the students involved will be present. Preparations for the chat have already started with students preparing their questions and teachers exchanging the questions through their respective emails. Mr. Bill Theobalt of WJHS and Ms. Biva Nag of Chowara will facilitate the video conference. The GCE program has engaged its teachers and students into various stimulating video conferences and activities; this event should be no different.(Update on 02 March 2010)
Technology Volunteer Corps (TVC) Training at Comilla NEW!
Relief International completed a 2 days long training program on "Technology Volunteer Corps Training 2010" on 27th and 28th February 2010 at the Internet Learning Center (ILC) in Yusuf Multipurpose Technical High School, Comilla under the Global Connections and Exchange Program (GCEP). In total there were 18 participants comprising of students, teachers and community users from Yusuf Multipurpose Technical High School, Chowara Girls' High School and Soilorani Girls' High School in Comilla district. The main goal of the training was to empower students and community member with necessary ICT skills so they are better prepared to support their ILC and sustain the GCE activities in their communities.(Update on 02 March 2010)Read More
GCE Students Participate in Webchat on Interfaith Dialogue NEW!
On the 27th of January 2010, Ms. Zeenat Rahman of the Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago, U.S.A. and Ms. Anggita (Gita) Paramesti, a student at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, engaged in an online web conference with students all over the world to discuss the recently concluded Interfaith Dialogue held in
Jakarta. The web chat was organized by the US Department of State, and many students associated with the GCE program in Bangladesh enthusiastically participated in this web chat where they put forth their queries and discussed many important issues related to interfaith dialogue. (Update on 24 February 2010)Read More
US Under Secretary for Public Affairs Speaks to Bangladeshi Students and Teachers through Web Conference NEW!
The US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Judith A. McHale, was present as a guest speaker for a web conference hosted by Relief International-Schools Online’s Bangladesh Country Office on 8th February 2010. The one hour long web conference, jointly organized by the Relief International and Education and Cultural Affairs Bureau of US Department of State under the Global Connections and Exchange Program, focused on the Status of Women in USA. Joe Mellott, Andrew Cedar and Corley Kenna -- three other members of the delegation -- were present during the web conference. Director of the American Centre, Dhaka, Lauren Lovelace, Public Affairs Officer of the American Center, Catherine Hallock , and another representative of the American Center, Harvey Sernovitz ,were also present at the event.(Update on 10 February 2010)Read More
New York Teacher Collaborates With Bangladeshi Teacher on Math Projects NEW!
The 21st century skills and ideas have indeed changed the way classrooms function, putting an exciting spin on the entire process of learning.GCE students is now solving math projects by coordinating with their peers living all the way across the globe at New York. Ms. Carol Harvey teaches Mathematics at the St. Thomas the Apostle School, New York, USA to students of the 7th grade, and she is now to collaborate on a global project with Mr. Shahjahan Chowdhury from Chittagong Steel Mills High School, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Ms. Harvey will soon be starting up a scale drawing/model project with her students, while Mr. Chowdhury will carry on the same project with his students here in Bangladesh.(Update on 20 January 2010)Read More
Teacher Professional Development Training NEW!
Intel Teach Program-Getting Started Course
On 4th January, 2010, a training program on “Teacher Professional Development Training, Intel Teach Program-Getting Started Course” was held at the Internet Learning Center of Rani Bilashmoni Govt. Boys High School in Gazipur. This training for their school teachers, organized in association with Relief International –Schools Online and Intel, was a four days long training program from 4th to 7th January, 2010. 8 teachers in total participated in the training.The main goal of the training program was to train the teachers on the use and integration of 21st century skills and ICT in today’s classrooms, and on adoption of a more student centric approach in education. The main contents of the training were identifying 21st century skills, comparing classrooms of today with classrooms of tomorrow, higher-order thinking, promoting collaboration, accepting change, facilitating learning and tools of ICT.(Update on 19 January 2010)Read More
ICT & Youth Leadership Grant 2010NEW!
Relief International is pleased to invite applications from the Bangladeshi youth (12 to 18 years old) to participate in the ICT and Youth Leadership Grant competition 2010. The grant competition is a part of Global Connections and Exchange Program-Bangladesh.
The GCE is a project of Relief International, which has set up internet enabled computer centers in Bangladesh to facilitate ICT based education and cross cultural projects for students, teachers and communities. In addition to promoting mutual understanding and enduring ties among schools, teachers and students across borders, GCE programs empowers communities with access to information, exposure to ICT and opportunities for participation in public life.(Update on 03 January 2010)Read More
Successful Celebration of International Education Week 09
RI- SOL is proud of its team and all GCE members who have made the celebrations of International Education Week ’09 such a success! All participants devoted their sincere efforts into the activities and, what’s more, also thoroughly enjoyed it.
Web conference on Education System in USA: The webchat between the representative from the American Center and the GCE was one of the most anticipated activities of the week. GCE students are always highly keen to get involved in such interactive sessions which introduce them to such a wealth of information about USA. Like the previous web chats organized by RI- SOL, this chat session was also a very informative and stimulating one.
(Update on 22 November 2009)Read More
RI- SOL Team Conducts Intel Master Trainers’ Training
10 teachers affiliated with the GCEP network participated in the Intel Master Trainers’ Training held at TARC, Gazipur and what a training it was! Enthusiasm and energy levels ran high as Relief International- Schools Online staff conducted the 4 days long training in accordance with the MoU signed between Relief International- Schools Online, US State Department and Intel Corp. Teachers exhibited unadulterated excitement and willingness to grasp the concepts being taught, and the entire session far surpassed the expectations of all the stakeholders.(Update on 30 October 2009)Read More
Intel Teach Training held in Dhaka to promote 21st Century Skills in Bangladesh
Intel Bangladesh and Relief International-Schools Online together implemented an Intel Teach program held at Bangladesh Computer Council in Dhaka from August 30th 2009 till September 2, 2009. The program, titled Senior Trainers’ Training, was a four day long workshop on developing trainers’ skills on the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and how it can be incorporated into the teaching curriculum. Nine of RI SOL’s ICT and Education trainers participated in the training while Erum Faisal, Senior Trainer of Intel Pakistan worked as a trainer for the program. The workshop consisted of rigorous training sessions over the four days where the Intel trained the participants on the core principles of teaching 21st century skills.(Update on 08 September 2009)Read More
Launch of the RI-SOL English Language Clubs in Bangladeshi Schools.
Keeping in mind the growing demand of English as the language of opportunity in the modern era and its contribution to meet growing demands of the 21st century, Relief International Schools Online has launched its new initiative namely The English Language Clubs across the schools in the Global Connection and Exchange Program (GCEP). The objective behind forming this club is to stimulate students' interest in the English language skills to empower them to communicate fluently and effectively and provide a platform for students to learn and enhance their skill in the four basic aspects of English language: READING, WRITING, SPEAKING and LISTENING thereby improving their performance and potential.(Update on 10 February 2009)
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:
- http://mefeedia.com/entry/117012/ (opens new window)
Flash-back 2007
Flash-back 2006
Flash-back 2005
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Nikhil C Bhattacharyya, Finance & Administrative Manager
Nikhil was responsible for the Finance & Administration section of the Bangladesh Country Office. He ensured smooth operation of finance and administrative tasks in the Bangladesh office. Nikhil also coordinated with RI HQ finance section to monitor the project expenses, financial statements, budget analysis, internal and external audit, liaise with NGOAB officials and supervise finance and admin personnel. |
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Global Connections and Exchange for Bangladesh project has established
Internet Learning Centers (ILCs) in secondary schools throughout
Bangladesh. These schools and their partner schools encompass a
population of almost forty thousand students! The program's main goal
is 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.
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| | If you are a school or teacher interested in participating in our roject, please write to us! |
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EFL Institute Program: The English as a Foreign Language Institute Program sends 30 teachers from East India (West Bengal, Bihar, and
Orissa) and Bangladesh to the United States for a 6-week Teacher
Professional Development Program. Teachers will take part in a 2-week
EFL seminar where they will receive training on current practices in
EFL instructional strategies, methodologies and techniques. Following
the 2-week seminar, participants will take part in a 3-week work shadow
where they will be teamed with a local teacher and school. Teachers
will spend this time observing teaching and learning methodologies.
During this period, teachers will live with American families and have
an opportunity to immerse themselves in American culture.
Application forms of EFL Institute Program can be downloaded from the following links:
 Application Form for Bangladeshi Teachers (Deadline: Jan 16, 2006)
 Application Form for Indian Teachers (Deadline: Jan 30, 2006)
International Education Week 2005:
In recognition of International Education Week 2005, Relief
International conducted a two-day education conference in Manikganj,
Bangladesh. Teachers from the US and Bangladesh met with staff involved
in the GCEP project and members of local NGOs and Peace Corps
Volunteers. The group discussed educational issues in both the United
States and Bangladesh, and discussed new directions for the GCEP
project in the years to come. Some Photos
from the conference are in our gallery. During the conference, we
recorded several videos which can be downloaded from the following
links: 
- American Exchange Teachers
Video Quality: Medium | Low
- Peace Corps Volunteers
Video Quality: Medium | Low
- On Site Monitors (in Bengali)
Video Quality: Medium | Low International Day:
Paul Martello is one of the US teachers who visited Bangladesh on our
exchange program, recorded a special video greeting for students at his
school on the occasion of International Day at his school. Video
Quality: High | Medium | Low  Bangladeshi Teachers Visit US: Three Bangladeshi teachers
just returned from a three week long visit to the United States. During
the visit, the teachers studied educational methodologies at the
University of Californa at Los Angeles. They also had a chance to
explore American culture by living for a while with families in the US
and visiting several cities, including the US Capital, Washington, DC. Read more... October 24 - 28
Ramadan and the Tradition of Eid: This year, the Muslim Holy Month  of
Ramadan fell in October. Ramadan is a big part of Muslim culture, and
schools in several countries participating in the Global Connections
and Exchange Program decided to put their heads together and make
presentations about Ramadan, looking at its historic significance and
the way that traditions vary between regions. Students in Tajikistan, Palestine, Afghanistan
and Bangladesh hope that they can convey the meaning and cultural
significance of the Holy Month to partner schools in other countries
that may not be as familiar with this tradition. The project will be
posted under the "Projects Link" when all entries are submitted, and
there will be a discussion on the forum board. October 10 - 14 Global Recipes: In early November, students from the US and Bangladesh picked recipes
that they thought were representative of their culture and traded them
online. Aspiring cooks on both ends of this project attempted to make
traditional food items from their partner country and the students
rated the recipes. Students discussed the project and their culinary
successes on the forum. September 12 - 28My_Community: My_Community
involved ten schools in Bangladesh and six in the United States. In
this global module, students from different countries told about their
school and their community by designing websites or presentations. The forum discussions have been great -- nice work! May 1 - 5
 Journalism: The journalism module
introduced students throughout Bangladesh to the field of journalism.
After completion of the academic portion of the module, journalists
visited each school and talked with students about their profession.
Afterwards, journalism clubs at each school began publishing their own
newspapers using Internet Learning Center facilities. April 18 - 27
Folklore: This Spring, students participated in a global  lesson on folk traditions. As part of the lesson, we invited folk musicians, bauls
to visit each school. Bangladesh's folk tradition has been heavily
influenced by these traditional singers, and we felt it was an
important part of the lesson. We managed to video tape one of the
performances, and have uploaded the videos in Windows Media format to the website. April 3 - 12
Youth Philanthropy Project:
Students got a chance to get involved in their community to make a
positive change! With the guidelines and help of RI-SOL, students and
teachers designed a short term community service project to benefit
their community or their partners communities. Through the forums the
students share their difficulties and triumphs in planning and carrying
out this project. Nov 6 - 22US Teachers Visit Bangladesh: Three American teach ers participating in the Global Connections and Exchange Program recently completed a three week visit to Bangladesh. During their stay
in Bangladesh, they visited schools participating in the Global
Connections and Exchange Program. They observed Bangaldeshi teaching
practices conducted workshops with their Bangladeshi counterparts. They
met children in these schools and talked about life in the US. They
returned to the US in time for the US Holiday of Thanksgiving. After
return to the US, they will also set up projects between their classes
in the US and the classes they visited while they were in Bangladesh.
We've put some photos from the trip in our web gallery. You can read about their day-to-day activities on their blogs. Nov 21ILC Opening in Jessore: Grand Opening of the Internet Learning Center at the Badshah Faisal Islamic Institute in Jessore. Dec 27US Students Visit Bangladesh:
Eight students participating in the LINC (Linking Individuals,
Knowledge and Culture) Program will visit Bangladesh. During their
three weeks in Bangladesh, the students will experience Bangaldeshi culture first hand. Students will work on community and development projects, and explore the role of community service and volunteerism in community building and conflict prevention/resolution. |
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Ahsan Habib Apon worked with Finance and Admin section of Relief International Bangladesh Office and responsible to assist Finance Officer and National Finance Manager for smooth operation of the section. Previously, he worked in similar positions in private sector. Ahsan did his graduation from the National University.
Apon has fascination for music and likes to compose music and lyrics. He wrote lyrics for some 10 music album. |
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