Sachetan Society is a non-political and non-profit making social development organization established in 1984 in view of working for socioeconomic development and empowerment of the landless, destitute and socially downtrodden people with a vision of building ‘Poverty Free Bangladesh’. With the development journey, Sachetan has gained long experience and learning approaches and established better strategies to address the root causes of poverty, food insecurity, malnutrition, vulnerable situation, insecurity, injustice, abuse and exploitation and uphold and equip them with skill, knowledge, education and capacity building to cope with changing situations of affecting their lives and livelihoods, empower in access to justice, protection, participation, information, entitlements & services and establish democratic practices and a just society to ensure that the marginalized people and women, irrespective of casts, class, races, minority, ethnicity, etc. are enjoying the equal rights. Thereby, Sachetan Society has developed itself as an integrated, inclusive, holistic and right based development organization in the Barendra region of the country and it always emphasizes the meaningful participation of all stakeholders for innovation, new approach and methods of development to get the sustainable solutions of roots causes.

It generally started its interventions when the poverty situations were worst, the poor people were dominated by power structure and driven to abuse and exploitation in access to rights and entitlements, malpractices of patriarchal powers and so-called religious leaders strongly prohibit the women’s rights to participation, projection, education and justice. And when it was very higher incidences of human rights violations such as polygamy, marriage at very early age, frequent divorce, dowry, domestic violence, sexual abuse and exploitation of women and children, child labour, children in conflict with laws, human trafficking, poverty, illiteracy, ill-health & unhygienic conditions, social, economic & climate vulnerabilities, etc. were very high. Since its establishment, Sachetan works with integrated and rights based approaches to fight for the poor people to address the structural and root causes.

At present, environmental degradation, climate change effects, fundamentalisms and global pandemic situations are affecting the causes of increasing shocks, impoverishment, threat to public health protection, education, social exclusion and other forms of vulnerable situations such as insecurity, injustice, abuse, exploitation and domestic violence against women, violent extremism, which greater threat to democracy, peace and justice. Considering the situations and encompassing management framework with inclusive and meaningful participation of all the target groups as development partners, Sachetan Society has emphasized on socio-ecological, rights based and inclusive development approach, engagement of CSOs, public and private sectors, climate adaptation, community resilient, peace building efforts, and integrated, democratic and holistic development practices in the vulnerable communities so that the indicators of vision 2021 and sustainable development goals are reached in track.

Md. Hasinul Islam
Executive Director, Sachetan Society