Bangladesh

Serving Bangladeshi Children & Rohingya Refugees In Bangladesh Since 2019

Currently an astounding 890,000 Rohingya refugees are living at the Kutupalong and Nayapara refugee camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar region.  The camps have grown to become the largest and most densely populated camps on earth.  This crisis has strained an already impoverished country, which has shown unprecedented generosity to the deeply persecuted Rohingya people.  PTMI has been making a significant impact in the lives of both Rohingya and Bangladeshi children since 2019.

Our exceptional team of young Bangladesh volunteers in Cox’s Bazaar are teaching our unique music program in 4 locations:

Rohingya Refugees in the Kutupalong Refugee Camp - Rohingya refugees survived decades of discrimination before genocidal atrocities drove them from Myanmar, with many injured, killed, tortured, raped, and their villages burned.  PTMI volunteers have brought trauma relief, self-esteem, purpose, academic achievement, leadership opportunities, joy and hope for the future for these children.  We currently teach classes twice a week in the camp.  

Climate Refugees in Najirar Tek - These children are living in an area with little access to education or resources.  The students have been delighted at the opportunity, believing music instruction was only for wealthy families.

Orphanage in Cox’s Bazar - PTMI opened a program last year for children in Cox’s Bazar’s “Orphan Center.” The children live and go to school in the Center and have loved learning the pennywhistle and befriending the volunteers.

Volunteer Training at the Asian University for Women in Chittagong - In 2023, Liz was able to teach our first intensive training course to 35 new volunteers attending the Asian University for Women in Chittagong. These exceptional women are chosen from all over Asia and the middle east to attend this university. There is an especially large number of women from Afghanistan because of the elimination of education for women under the Taliban. Our goal with these women Is to not only enable them to run a music program for local impoverished Bangladeshi children but also for them to take our Peace Through Music International program back to their home countries.

Impoverished and Orphaned Children in Chittigong - Our AUW volunteers have begun a program for children at the Societas Socialis Children’s Village, a home for orphaned and abandoned children.  These children have also thrived under our program and can't wait for class each week to start.

Much of this work is made possible with a partnership with the Bangladeshi-based organization YASID (Youth Alliance for Sustainable International Development).  

PTMI would like to thank the Rosalie and Harold Brown Charitable Trust for making this program possible.

Please see our Facebook page to follow our work in this remarkable country!