Since 2013, Traid has funded Nagorik Uddyog’s work to establish two daycare centres and two drop-in centres for the children of garment-working mothers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In 2025, we have committed £75,808 to continue supporting these centres, located in the Mirpur and Mohammadpur districts. The centres provide quality care, education, rights support, nutritious food, and health checks for 180 vulnerable children aged 2–13. They also offer early childhood development support, birth certificate registration, education mainstreaming, and informal education.

Many garment workers are single mothers who have migrated from rural areas to find work far from their families. Earning as little as £73.85 a month, these women are often forced to leave their young children alone and at risk while they work. Older children frequently have to contribute to the family’s income, taking on hazardous jobs in sectors such as leather tanning and metal construction.

Nagorik Uddyog works to build safer futures for these children and has established four high-quality care facilities that provide nutritious food and access to education for some of the most at-risk children. Two of these facilities are daycare centres that support 80 children aged 2–5 years. They offer full-day care, including meals, health check-ups, and early years education to prepare children for primary school. From this group, Nagorik Uddyog will support 30 children to transition into mainstream primary education.

The programme has also established two drop-in centres where 100 older children aged 6–13 years can attend informal education sessions for three hours per day. These sessions include literacy and maths classes, as well as life skills and rights training, to help improve their future opportunities. Approximately 40 of these children will be supported to enrol in state schools, while the remaining 60 will be guided towards safer forms of employment.

Nagorik Uddyog takes a holistic approach to empower families and communities. Through regular meetings involving parents, teachers, and children, the organisation raises awareness about the value of education and the negative impacts of child labour and early marriage. It also helps families obtain birth certificates for their children — a crucial document that ensures access to education and healthcare. In addition, Nagorik Uddyog runs community campaigns on gender equality and child rights to promote lasting, positive change.

Research by Nagorik Uddyog has found that when the children of underprivileged workers, particularly garment workers, are provided with access to day-care facilities, their families’ overall wellbeing improves significantly. Our continued support for this project will help more children access a brighter future by providing safe care spaces and breaking down barriers to education.

Find out more about Nagorik Uddyog here. If you would like to support Traid’s work donate here.