Bangladesh Tour - 16th to 26th September 2022
Join Muslim Charity’s volunteer family, TEAMMC, on its 7th annual volunteer deployment trip to Bangladesh. Soak up the cultural delights while you participate and immerse yourself in all Bangladesh’s Children of the World projects.
Join Muslim Charity’s volunteer family, TEAMMC, on its 7th annual volunteer deployment trip to Bangladesh. Soak up the cultural delights while you participate and immerse yourself in all the Children of the World projects in Bangladesh.
The trip is in no way a holiday rather it is an emotional roller-coaster that will challenge your purpose and feed your soul.
The trip has been very carefully organised with experienced staff from the UK and Bangladesh and fully inclusive which means you don’t have to worry about anything.
To join the tour, we simply ask that you book your own flights and pay £480 towards your hotels, food, PCR test in Bangladesh (if required) transport and internal flights.
We also humbly ask each participant to raise a minimum of £2,000 excluding any gift aid towards the projects that we will interact with during the tour.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR
Sylhet
Your Bangladeshi adventure with TEAMMC starts in Sylhet. Home to lush green paddy fields, beautiful tea estates, and home to the diaspora Bangladeshi community in the UK.
‘Slum’ schools
Sylhet town hosts some of the most expensive real estate in Bangladesh. However, it’s also home to some of the most deprived communities. This community is primarily the hidden work force of Sylhet and made up of low-income families.
Most of the families in the slum are disengaged from the mainstream and therefore find it extremely difficult to admit their children to mainstream schooling. The expectation is that once the children are 8-10, they will also contribute financially to the family.
Muslim Charity, with your help has started a new school to support these children. It gives access to pre-primary education and prepares them for mainstream schooling. We use informal play techniques to give young people the confidence and social skills they need to benefit from an education.
You will spend time volunteering at the school shadowing and playing games under the supervision of our champion teachers.
House building and livelihood project
Our latest project in Sylhet division is livelihood support to needy families also supporting some families with decent home building.
You will have opportunity to visit some of the families in different villages of Sylhet and get to understand first hand the impact your donations can make to the lives of needy people in countries like Bangladesh.
Cox’s Bazar
Cox’s Bazar is the home of the longest unbroken beach in the world and one of the most beautiful areas of Bangladesh.
Children homes
It’s here that we have initiated building the first permanent children homes. These are homes for former street children who have no family, no home otherwise.
This oasis is where their healing process will begin and where children can finally be children again. Here you will volunteer for a day working on the project site with our team on the ground and start understanding the rehabilitation process of street children.
Dhaka
One of the most densely populated cities in the world but filled with history, culture, and amazing street food.
Street children
You will spend time with outreach workers on the ground shadowing them and learning more about detached work with street children.
You will have the opportunity to speak to the “street children “ at the various access points and attempt to rescue these vulnerable children
We will visit some of the sites where children congregate where you will learn more about their lives as well as their struggles.
You will visit our Transitional shelter where the healing process begins for rescued children
Daulatdia
Our time in Dhaka will also include a day visit to Daulatdia, the 4th biggest brothel in the world. Here you will meet children of the brothel who we support through our day care centre and youth club.
We will finish the tour visiting a home where children can finally rest and restart their lives as children again.
REGISTRATION
Tour Fee: £480 (£80 deposit at registration)
Fundraising Target: £2,000 (excluding international flights)
The tour fee can be paid in 2 instalments but must be paid fully 4 weeks before travel.
Please check your dates and availability as we cannot offer any refunds on the fees.
What’s Included
This amount will cover all transport, hotel, food, PCR tests in Bangladesh and accommodation costs whilst in Bangladesh and is based on 2 people sharing one room. Muslim Charity will manage and arrange all of the logistics in Bangladesh including pick-up and drop-off to airports.
What’s Not Included
UK PCR test – Participants will need to arrange their PCR test in the UK before departure and ensure the test is taken within 72 hrs of landing in Bangladesh (and also comply with any other Airline/Travel requirements).
International Flights
The fee does not include the UK to Bangladesh return flights.
The flight you will need to book is:
Outgoing: UK – Dhaka – Sylhet
Incoming: Dhaka – UK
Muslim Charity staff are on hand should you need any advice on booking your flight. We ask that all participants arrive by Friday 16th September and be available for the evening introduction meeting at 7pm at the hotel. Once we know your arrival time a representative will be waiting at the airport to pick you up.
Visa
As foreign nationals you will need to apply for a visa from the Bangladesh consulate. The Bangladesh visa services are available in London and Manchester.
Please apply for a tourist visa: www.bhclondon.org.uk/tourist-visa
If you have Bangladeshi heritage you can apply for a ‘No Visa required’ visa stamp. This entitles you to visit Bangladesh without obtaining a visa. There is also a visa on arrival service in Dhaka where you can obtain a visa for your stay.
Please bear in mind that we cannot guarantee your visa or entry. Please seek advice from the embassy before you book your flights and pay your registration fee. If you need any help Muslim Charity staff are on hand to advise and guide you through the process.
Travel Vaccinations
Please check with your GP what vaccinations you may require.
Entry to Bangladesh
Passengers arriving from the UK will need:
- A medical certificate indicating a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel (for passengers aged 10 or over)
- Confirmation of your vaccination status, with vaccination course completed 14 days before entry, if you are relying on a completed COVID-19 vaccination course for quarantine exemptions (See Quarantine requirements)
- A completed Health Declaration Form and Passenger Locator Form provided by cabin crew.
You may be subjected to additional health screening measures at the airport.
You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country. You should arrange to take a private test.
HOW TO REGISTER?
All you require to guarantee your place is to pay the non-refundable £80 registration fee and a further £400 4 weeks before you travel.
When you have registered you will be redirected to your JustGiving fundraising page where you can customise your story for your donors and supporters.
To help with spreading the cost of the tour you can pay the remainder in 2 instalments. Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this initiative when registering.