Gram Bikash Kendra (GBK) is a local-level, non-profit development organization working in the Northwest Region of Bangladesh. Since 1992, GBK has worked as an enabling force for vulnerable section of the community. In particular, GBK's work focuses on women, children and indigenous people. We have strong links with National and international organizations, including HEKS - Switzerland, ICCO - Netherlands, PKSF - Bangladesh, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), Nayantara Communications-Bangladesh and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).
Global Action Week 2009
Date:20th – 26th April 2009
What is Global Action Week? 
Global Action Week is a week of action and activities, held every year in April since 1999, to raise awareness of the need for Education for All.
Who organises Global Action Week?
Organised by the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), an international collective of NGOs, teachers’ associations and governments supported by 180 countries worldwide, Global Action Week works for the achievement of the second Millenium Development Goal (MDG), ‘Achieve Universal Primary Education’).
What was the theme of Global Action Week this year?
The theme of this year’s Global Action Week was ‘Youth and Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning’, aiming to raise awareness of the need for education for children, young people and adults.
How is Global Action Week observed in Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, the Campaign for Population Education (CAMPE) is a lead organisation that helps to observe Global Action Week throughout the country.
How did GBK observe Global Action Week?
In the Northwest of Bangladesh, GBK is a CAMPE partner, and has been observing Global Action Week in Dinajpur district for many years.
This year, the week was observed once again with exciting and extensive programme of activities that included:
• The Big Read (22nd April) was observed in 199 different locations (Institution) and involved 11 816 participants from GBK’s various programmes’ and projects’ working areas.
• An Art Competition (24th April) was held at GBK’s Head Office Training and Resource Centre in Parbatipur, involving almost 70 students from eight local schools participate in the Competition. The competition’s theme was ‘Natural Scenery’, and the students, aged between seven and fourteen years old, produced a dazzling array of artwork (displayed at the Cultural Competition on the following day). Prizes were awarded for first, second and third places in two age groups.
• A Rally was held (25th April) in Haldibari, Parbatipur, attended by close to 1500 students and teachers from four local schools, plus NGO staff and local government officials.
• This was followed by a Discussion Meeting, held at Haldibari Madhamik Bidya Niketan, a local school in Haldibari, Parbatipur, chaired by the school’s headmaster, Mr Abu Ehiya. Chief guest, Mr Protap Chandro Biswas, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, of Parbatipur, Dinajpur, and special guests Mrs Taiyaba Khanam, Headmistress of Haldibari Government Primary School, Mohammad Jashim Uddim, GBK’s Programme Manager (Microfinance), and Moazzem Hossain, GBK’s Director gave speeches after an introduction from the event’s organiser, Md Abul Kalam Azad, Programme Coordinator of GBK’s POWER project.
• Finally, a Cultural Competition was held for the students. Participants competed in several categories, including solo song, dance, acting, poem recital and costume show, and prizes were awarded for the most impressive competitor in each category. Judging was very difficult, however, given the outstanding quality of all performances.