Rohingya project: Read the amazing Impact report for Year 1

HERE ARE A FEW EDITED HIGHLIGHTS

• Established 22 peer support groups (male and female) across all 11 camps, directly engaging 264 community members in structured psychosocial support activities.

• Delivered 44 participatory peer education sessions covering stress management, active listening, empathy, confidentiality, and mental health referral pathways.

• Trained 31 frontline NGO staff from 13 organizations on MHPSS

• Reached an estimated 350,000+ beneficiaries through Radio Naf 99.2 FM via PSAs, live talk shows, radio drama, and weekly interactive programmes.

• Engaged 80 children and adolescents in creative and recreational sessions to promote emotional expression, resilience, and peer connection.

• Produced an 8-page flipchart-based training manual and standardized peer group facilitation framework for consistent field implementation.

• A “Manoshik Kosto” tele-mental health hotline.

WORK ON YEAR 2 BEGINS

With the high prevalence of trauma, depression and PTSD remaining, there is a continued need for this support to continue. Therefore, BC is continuing funding to GDC into year 2 to build on the work carried out so far.

GDC Director Golam Abbas, a former senior UNHCR official who ran humanitarian operations across Asia, Africa and the Middle East for close to four decades, said:

“The people in this camp are facing a high prevalence of trauma, depression, and PTSD. Peer groups require ongoing mentoring and supervision in a population with no pathway home. Demand for assistance without continued funding means community structures risk collapse. This is why continuing this work and widening understanding on these issues is essential.

“The programme has proven to be a scalable, community-driven model that helps both frontline workers and the refugees themselves. Our next phase will be about expanding peer support networks, dedicated child and adolescent psychosocial safe spaces. We also want to strengthen referral pathways and improve access to psychiatric medications through health sector coordination.”

WIDE IMPACT REACHING 350,000 + REFUGEES

Radio outreach will continue to help raise awareness and reduce stigma about mental health. This will be backed by improved telephone support helplines.

Edna Fernandes, BC Co-Founder and Executive Director said:

“This project proves that even with modest resources, a wide and meaningful impact can be achieved. This project has directly helped hundreds of families inside the camp, including vulnerable children and adolescents. It has helped advocate on mental health and provided a message of support via local radio to more than 350,000 people. This breaks down ignorance and stigma and provides a free telephone helpline for those who need it. We are delighted with the progress of Golam Abbas and Dr Saleh work via  GDC and urge greater support and resources to be allocated by the international community to the Rohingya refugees. No refugee community should be forgotten. Every life matters.  If you can support this project, please do so as the Rohingyas desperately need more help.”

Gillian Dare, BC Chair, said:

“It is our great pleasure to work in partnership with such committed professionals as Mr Golam Abbas, Founder & Director of GDC, and Dr Saleh, who continue to deliver trauma and mental health programmes to the world’s most forgotten displaced people , the Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazaar. These people were forced to flee for their lives from the repressive and violent military regime  in Myanmar who were determined to wipe them out. All of them have suffered deep trauma…GDC working alongside the Rohingyas have brought a measure of hope to many of them, a lifeline to cling to when they can no longer cope alone.”

YOU CAN READ A SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT REPORT HERE:

YOU CAN DONATE HERE.