ACEF conducts a crowdfunding campaign from October 31st to November 30th to raise funds for microfinance to rebuild the lives of the poor in Bangladesh and to become independent for the future of Bangladesh's children. Please donate to support the children and families of Bangladesh, our neighbor in Asia.

■ Message from student volunteers

Since we started activities at ACEF in the latter half of April, we three student volunteers have been discussing the educational situation in Bangladesh, the current impact of the coronavirus, the situation of BDP schools, etc. with ACEF members and local staff. I learned a lot from the inside and posted it on SNS so that more people could know about it.

 The children's composition was particularly impressive during the activity. "Grandma got infected with COVID," "My dad's job is gone," "I want to go to school and meet my friends" -Their writings vividly conveyed the tight situation in Bangladesh.

 Although there are still various inconveniences in Japan, the new daily life of With Corona is gradually beginning. However, in Bangladesh, every day is desperate to survive. In particular, many parents of BDP elementary school students are day laborers, and the situation is urgent. It was reported in Bangladesh that it would be difficult to reopen school this year, but even if the school starts next year, some children may not be able to come back to help with their family's work.

 I heard that the children of Bangladesh collected their money and donated it to Japan at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Isn't it our turn to support them this time? Your donations help economically low-income families through microfinance, and above all, support the education of children.

 Education is hope. Please donate to support Bangladeshi children and their families so as not to stop local education.

 * All donations will be donated to the organization, excluding settlement fees.Since this organization is a certified NPO, it is eligible for donation deduction. We have issued a receipt, so please use it when filing your tax return.If you would like to donate by other means than by credit card or Amazon Pay, please contact the ACEF Secretariat (email: acef@acef.or.jp, phone: 03-3208-1925).■ About microfinance

Microfinance is a financial service that provides small loans and deposits to the poor who cannot get a loan from a bank. The goal is to solve the social problem of poverty reduction, and people can borrow money unsecured.

This microfinance feature is that it forms a group of 5 people and receives loans in order. The repayment rate is very high due to collective responsibility. Loans are used to launch new businesses, buy raw materials, and spend money on children's education to prevent the chain of poverty.

■ About ACEF and BDP

The Asian Christian Education Fund (ACEF), a non-profit organization, has been supporting education in Bangladesh since 1990. The continuing support is based on the idea of former doctor Mina Malakar and ACEF founder Funato's mission "education is the basis of all cooperation." Since its inception, it has partnered with Bangladesh's NGO, Basic Development Partners (BDP). We provide education through divided school classes into morning and afternoon classes at Terakoya so that everyone can attend regardless of age, disability, or family circumstances.

Since 2000, we have opened a vocational training school. We have acquired skills so that children who do not go on to junior high school after graduating from elementary school can get out of the cycle of poverty on their own. By developing schools and providing vocational training that meets children's needs, we have established a way of educational support that cannot be covered by conventional formal education. Thirty years after starting the activity, Bangladesh has experienced remarkable economic development, and the literacy rate has risen to 73%.

However, due to the impact of COVID-19, it is expected that some children will not be able to attend school. ACEF will continue to support education with the aim of "education that leaves no one behind" (the philosophy and goal of the SDGs) and will also work on new things such as environmental education and microfinance.

■ Why work on microfinance?

When BDP starts microfinance, it has the following three purposes.

(1) The student's family should lead a stable life. Many families in BDP Elementary School have lost their jobs and income due to the influence of COVID-19. For those families to lead a stable life in such a difficult situation, we support them through microfinance.

⑵ To improve the motivation of parents and children. First, to support the improvement of motivation in life and education by setting goals for each family and cultivating a fellowship as a group by establishing a deposit system and group organization.

(3) It is to supplement the educational expenses of BDP elementary school with microfinance. Currently, the source of funds depends on donations. Still, BDP thought that financial independence was indispensable for operating sustainably and delivering stable and high-quality education to beneficiaries.

■ What is BDP microfinance?

When BDP had a meeting with ACEF, they said, "As time goes on, the beneficiaries themselves will realize the difference between BDP and other microfinance institutions and the goodness of BDP microfinance. “There are many other microfinance institutions in Bangladesh. Still, microfinance through schools can improve women's empowerment and children's participation in education.

ACEF and BDP will continue to strive to ensure that Bangladeshi children receive primary education, providing various opportunities in the children's' future. We appreciate your support and cooperation.

■ How to use donations

The donations will be used as a source of funds for BDP's microfinance business and used as loans. The more resources you collect, the more people you can lend, and the more chances a lot of people will have to try a small business at home. Also, if microfinance gets on track, the operating costs of BDP Elementary School, which has traditionally relied solely on donations from supporters, will be covered.

■ A message from the President

The Asian Christian Education Fund has provided support for children who cannot go to school for the past 30 years. During that time, the social situation in Bangladesh has changed significantly, and the number of public schools has increased. In that sense, educational opportunities are being provided to children.

However, the current coronavirus infection is putting people in a state of a financial crisis. Low-income families are even more impoverished, and managing every day financially is an urgent task for those families. At ACEF, we hope to continue to support the most vulnerable people in society, and even more vulnerable children, in such a situation.

Urgent fundraising is one method, but it seems necessary to support people's lives to improve continually to continue to support them.

ACEF is now supporting the people of Bangladesh to realize microcredit to constructively improve their lives. For that purpose, we would like to raise the necessary funds first with cooperation from everyone. Please help support the children of Bangladesh and those families facing poverty.