Welcome to Symbiosis Newsletter No. 2 for 2010

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It’s an interesting, if slightly stressful time of year in Bangladesh. Technically it is the rainy season (borshakal) and summer (greeshshorkal) has just finished. Bangladesh actually recognizes six seasons and the rainy season is potentially just as hot as summer except that rainfall does cool things down when it happens.
This year, the rainy season has started more promisingly than last year. There has been some rain already and farmers obviously believe the rain will continue as there are fields being planted with rice now that weren’t planted until August last year.
Despite the heat and humidity, there are some pleasures in being in Bangladesh at this time of year. It is the season for beautiful mangoes, lychees, pineapples and the national fruit of Bangladesh, the jackfruit. Bananas that taste like real bananas are, as usual, one of the joys of Bangladesh.
On the Symbiosis front, many things are happening. The roof of the Training Centre has been poured so that we now have one of the best views in Mymensingh and a building that has six floors of office, training and accommodation space. We just need to complete all the internal structural and fitting bits.
Anthony and Jacqueline Jenyns will be back in Australia at the end of June for a six-month break. Anthony has made great progress with the development of the fisheries training course over the last couple of years. The course now provides comprehensive training in livestock, fish, vegetables and fruit (including mushrooms) husbandry. More than 65 students from the rural community have done this training through our organization in the past three months.

Written by David Vance

Symbiosis Newsletter No. 1 for 2010 - March

Although this is the first newsletter for the year, much has already happened in the world of Symbiosis International. Since December, two extras floors have been added to the new Training Centre in Mymensingh; concrete for the fourth floor was poured, literally, only days ago.
Pouring of the third floor in late January was overseen by Des and Jimmy from Melbourne while Kevin and Valma Voigt have now returned to Bangladesh to watch over further construction. Valma will also be working with some of the Symbiosis staff who will be coming to Australia later this year.
We are very excited about the Great Aussie Rickshaw Ride (GARR) which will happen in Australia later this year, with funding from the Australian Government and driven by Jeff McClintock and others. This is an amazing opportunity to raise the profile of the work of Symbiosis and to broaden our support base in the community.

Brick Sale!!

For Training Centre in Mymensingh

The training centre in Mymensingh has now began the first phase of construction, the foundation has been laid!! But for Symbiosis to complete the building so the facilities can be put to good use we still need funding for building resources. So there is a BRICK SALE!!

Each brick is $5 each, please send a cheque with explanatory note to Symbiosis International, PO Box 749 Mt. Gravatt QLD, 4122.

Written by David Vance

Welcome to Symbiosis Newsletter No. 3 for 2009.

School Kids

As we come to the end of the year, a weary Executive Officer of Symbiosis International (Morris Lee) was heard to say; “It has been a demanding and yet rewarding year. The next one also promises to be equally challenging”.
There is a real sense that Symbiosis is moving to a new level of operation in terms of the depth and the scope of its outreach to the poor and marginalized people in Bangladesh.
The landscape of Symbiosis in Bangladesh has been dominated to some extent this year by the beginning of construction of the New Training Centre in Mymensingh. This has been helped enormously by the efforts of Kevin and Valma Voigt. Kevin has been very impressed by the knowledge and skills of local workmen, but he has also been able to make suggestions that have resulted in improvements in construction methods.

Written by Jeff McClintock

2009 Newsletter No.4 - March

With 2009 rushing on like the mighty Jamuna River, it’s high time for a catch up about all things Symbiosis and Bangladesh. Looking back on the last few months, there has been a mixture of good and not-so-good things happening:

The Bangladesh national election in December was carried out in a peaceful and orderly manner, delivering an overwhelming victory to Sheik Hasina and the Awami League.
The recent mutiny by members of the Bangladesh Rifles involving the deaths of dozens of officers has seen Bangladesh hit the international news. Although inexcusable, the mutiny reflects the desperate situation in which many find themselves in these increasingly difficult times.
Successful visits were carried out by a large number of teams and individuals during the last few months. These visits help increase first-hand understanding about the vital work of Symbiosis.
Like most organisations relying on external donors, Symbiosis Bangladesh is facing significant reductions to its project budgets in the coming financial year. This will result in staff being laid off and a reduction in the scale of the organisations work amongst the poor and marginalised.

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