"Teach a mother, change the world"
The Amarok Society educates about 3,000 students in Bangladesh by teaching mothers how to teach children. Amarok Society's programs target the poorest women in the slums of Bangladesh, women for whom a job paying $1 per day would be prized. Educating them to teach Bangladeshi, English and mathematics to children raises the literacy and numeracy levels of the entire community.
Nick Lawley, a Rotarian with the club of East York, talked about the success of the Amarok model. In traditional communities, women are treated like chattel and educating them is not viewed as priority. Their lack of education means they are qualified for only low-paying menial jobs. When they can read and write, they become eligible for better paying jobs and this benefits their families and communities as a whole.
When they enter the program, they commit to teaching at least five children in their homes. Often, men in the communities will listen in on the lessons.
Amarok has clusters of schools in Dhaka and Khulna. It would like to add more locations. Its educational materials are produced locally and tailored to the needs of the women being taught. Lessons include role plays that help the women to challenge social attitudes that limit their opportunities to learn and meaningfully contribute to the community.