(+33) 1 42 66 49 39
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contact-site@solinfo.org
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11 rue Miollis, 75015 Paris
Country context
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated and poorest countries in the world, facing significant demographic pressure. It is also extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and remains one of the countries most threatened by ongoing climate change.
Nearly half of its 170 million inhabitants are young people, with over half living below the maximum poverty threshold. For many young girls, marriage is the only economic option, and 58% of them get married between the ages of 16 and 18.
With one of the fastest rates of urbanization in Asia, the disparity in urban centers between the rich and the poor continues to grow. The most disadvantaged populations in terms of education and employment are primarily those living in villages and peri-urban areas.
The action initiated in Bangladesh is at the origin of Solinfo’s long history. Indeed, the association was formed in 2002 around a computer training initiative in Bangladesh. More than twenty years later, this initial humanitarian action, still active, enables the training of nearly 300 students every year through 11 centers located in 3 districts.
Since 2002, Solinfo has pioneered actions by implementing office automation training programs that contribute to improving the employability of young girls and boys. At its level, Solinfo contributes to the national goal of “Digital Bangladesh” and thus addresses the high demand for office jobs in the tertiary sector.
Office automation training programs are usually reserved for the middle or upper class, while poverty affects 30% of the population. Therefore, Solinfo supports the State’s literacy program by providing additional training to facilitate the professional integration of young orphans or those from very disadvantaged backgrounds.
Solinfo has established itself in Bangladesh by building partnerships with schools, orphanages, and educational centers in response to requests from local institutions unable to provide this type of training to their audiences and beneficiaries. Today, 11 centers are active in several districts of the country: Chittagong, Cox Bazar, and Comilla.
Since 2002, Solinfo has been providing free office automation vocational training for disadvantaged girls and boys aged 17 to 22.
With 2 sessions of 6 months each year, Solinfo trains 24 young people per center, totaling nearly 300 graduates annually. Our initiative responds to local demands for office automation training in a context with a high employability rate in the tertiary sector and aligns with national programs for poverty reduction and the development initiative “Digital Bangladesh.”
The office automation diploma awarded by Solinfo is recognized and highly regarded by local businesses, with 70% of the trained youth securing employment after their training. Our graduates find employment in various sectors, including banks, hospitals, data centers, internet cafes, or they establish their own micro-enterprises.
Our training programs enable young individuals excluded from national programs to improve their social status, especially young girls. Our sessions are open to everyone, regardless of gender or community background.
Our certified training programs are recognized by the government and well-received by local businesses.
Our main objectives are to:
For over 20 years, the association has been funded almost equally by the Solinfo association, by French partners who contribute to a portion of the operational budgets, as is currently the case with the TDH-AL68 association, and finally, by local teams contributing an increasingly significant share to generate the necessary income for our 11 centers.
The rise in local funding is made possible in Bangladesh through the solidarity shown by a network of businesses based in Dhaka. These companies, whether French, European, or local, support us through donations in kind, such as textiles, computers, or other items. This contribution allows us to organize charity sales for both Bangladeshis and expatriates, with the proceeds directly supporting our operational budget.
For the past few years, TDH-AL68 (Terre des Hommes – Alsace) has been co-funding this initiative with us in Bangladesh. In collaboration with TDH-AL68, we are developing an awareness campaign on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Initially dedicated to the four centers supported by TDH-AL68, this initiative has been expanded to include all 11 of our centers.
We have specifically chosen to focus our awareness campaign on three main axes:
This initiative involves the placement of information posters in the centers, organizing conferences, and awareness campaigns around our centers.
It’s worth noting that we also collaborate with TDH-AL68 on drawing exchange initiatives between schools in Alsace and Bangladesh.
Since 2023, Solinfo has been part of the network of friends of TDH.
