BREAKING THE POVERTY CYCLE
OBAT Helpers
is a 501(C) 3, non-profit organization committed to providing aid, support, education and economic empowerment to displaced, stranded and refugee populations residing in camps in Bangladesh.
OBAT was initially formed on September of 2004, as a family initiative. The name, OBAT, is an acronym formed by the first letters of the names of the parents (Obaid, Bilquis, Aman & Tayyaba) of Anwar and Afshan Khan, the founders of this charitable initiative. At the time of OBAT’s inception, the population it started serving was commonly known as Internally displaced Urdu-speaking Minorities , Biharis or Urdu speaking people. This community has been suffering silently in the countless slums or makeshift camps scattered across Bangladesh, for the past 50 years. Their displaced status and dire living conditions were a consequence of a civil war between East and West Pakistan and the unresolved political conflict between the two regions. Altogether, there are more than 300,000 people languishing in one hundred and sixteen makeshift camps in extremely poor conditions- they live in abject poverty with no access to basic amenities of living.
OUR VISION
A Bangladesh where everyone, including refugees, internally displaced persons, citizens, migrants, etc, has the opportunity to reach their full potential through access to education and opportunities, where poverty is a thing of the past, and where these residents become positively contributing members of society.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to equip underserved communities in Bangladesh with the tools they need to break free from the cycle of poverty. We do this by providing access to quality education and economic empowerment programs, promoting financial independence and inclusive economic growth. Our ultimate goal is to build a more equitable and prosperous Bangladesh for all.
Our Core Values
OBAT’s humanitarian work is guided by the following core values
SUSTAINABILITY
We are committed to promoting and supporting practices that ensure long-term social, environmental, and economic viability.
IMPACT DRIVEN
We are committed to achieving measurable and meaningful outcomes that create positive change in Bangladesh.
COMMUNITY DRIVEN
We prioritize the needs, priorities, and perspectives of the communities we serve by actively involving community members in the design, implementation, and evaluation of our programs.
GENDER EQUALITY
We are committed to promoting and advancing equal rights and opportunities for women and girls.
ACCOUNTABILITY
OBAT Helpers USA is committed to being responsible and transparent in all of its actions and decisions. It means being accountable to the people and communities we serve, as well as to our donors, partners, and stakeholders.
