The Unusual Boat Schools Of Bangladesh
Twice a year, Bangladesh experiences floods which leave millions of its citizens without access to clean water, electricity, and other necessities. It becomes difficult for children to attend schools and for those schools to keep their doors open.
To combat the challenges caused by the annual floods, a nonprofit organization called ‘Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha’ came up with a brilliant solution. They built houses, health care centers, and schools that float. The nonprofit operates almost 100 boat schools.
Each of these schools is solar powered and equipped with a laptop computer, Internet access, and a small library. The boat schools are a school and school bus hybrid.
Whenever there’s a flood and every other service is closed for business, the floating schools are still operational. They pick their students up from docks and riversides, then dock somewhere so that class can begin.
After the lessons are through, the boat schools return the students to their homes and another group of students is picked up. About 70,000 children have benefited from the boat schools since they were established in 2002.
