echostars

EchoStars needs Volunteers

echostars — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:22:03 +0000

I started EchoStars three years ago with very little experience in charity fund raising or using the electronic world of social media for network support. I am still not very good at either of these. My exposure to the life of people who live on the ‘margins’ made me realise how little I needed to know or to do to make a significant difference to their lives.

My simple mission is to just care a little more as I know lives will change. Hope and opportunity will be given to children who live with the expectation of cruel and exploitative lives. The rewards cannot be over emphasised for working in charity. Whatever your spiritual or secular beliefs there is an inherent righteousness in helping those who are less fortunate or able than yourself. To give a helping hand up to those in need is to walk tall in life.

If you have any interest in joining our small project we would welcome your support. Please click here to view the Open Garden Newsletter. You can contact me at rosefigtree@echostars.org if you can lend a helping hand to change the lives of these beautiful and delightful children.

Helpers needed for

Open Garden at Farnborough 5/6 and 12/13 May.
Donations of food for tea and coffee service.
Gate keeping and sewing stall attendees
Marketing of EchoStars events. If you have experience in social media it would be a wonderful help to us.
Selling our sewing products so we can continue the production to keep the women employed in the Sewing Program.
The wonderful job of book keeping.

Farnborough Autmun 2012 Open Garden

echostars — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:29:11 +0000

Just a couple of weeks before Farnborough will open for your chance to enjoy the colours of Autumn. The extra wet weather has created a few challenges but despite the deluge the colours are not dampened. I hope to welcome you on either of the first two weekends in May.

Open Garden at Farnborough May 5/6 and 12/13.

Early May Open Garden at Farnborough

echostars — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:20:29 +0000

Autumn at Farborough is worth seeing

Farnborough will once again open to the public for the farewell to Summer with the Autumn colours of the many magnificient irridescent trees.

The gardens are open for two weekends in early May.

• Weekend: Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 May
• Weekend: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 May

You will be able to purchase gifts made by the Sewing Group in Bangladesh to raise money for the Echo Stars school.

All welcome.

Bengali New Year – Shubha Nababorsho

echostars — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:08:09 +0000

Brightstars began the day at 8am with the traditional breakfast for this day of Hilsha fish and water rice. Hilsha is the national fish dish and water rice is the staple food of the peasants. All the children came to school by 8 o’clock with a lot of colorful saree. Even the youngest of the little girls were dressed to celebrate this New Year. Everybody tried to wear a new dress to celebrate the New Year and a fresh beginning. Everybody gathered on the incomplete fifth floor where Chitto Halder the Administrator and the headmistress, Rose Lima, both gave a speech on the history and importance of the day especially as an expression of pride in their Bangla culture. From 8 to 10 children performed many events such as: drama, songs, recitation, folk songs, acting on farmers role ect. The focus is to celebrate their culture and all the students were encouraged to join in and express themselves ‘culturally’ in whatever way they wanted. At 10 the floor was open to all to show or perform anything. At 10:30 the children enjoyed the OHELA BOISHAKH sweets and some other food such as: chira (flattened rice), muri (puff rice), khoi (other kind of puff rice), batasha (a kind of special sweet), nakul (another special sweet), zilapi (a very common sweet). On this sweet note the day ended with the flavour of the celebration on their tongues and hearts.

The day also has a special significance for the business community. The business community celebrates a “HALKHATA” program in their business center, mainly in the shops. Halkhata means, the shopkeepers try to have all outstanding debts paid and they distribute sweets to their well wishers and customers and open a new account book from the first of BOISHAKH.

Trekking Nepal

echostars — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:20:16 +0000

Rose Figtree (me) has just returned from trekking Nepal. EchoStars is about to launch a trek to Annapurna Base Camp 4200 – affectionately known as ABC. Trekking Nepal is a step into the last wilderness. The land of Mustang in Northern Nepal is strongly influenced by Tibetian Bubbhism. . Let Rose know if your interested as details are being finalised now.

A Trek to Remember

BrightStars nears completion

echostars — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:58:48 +0000

BrightStars School constuction is nearing completion with the fifth and final floor in progress.

The final floor of BrightStars School

Despite the doubling of buiding costs in Dhaka we are able to forge ahead and hope to have the major constuction finished by the end of May 2012. Our wish list is still long with the rooftop playgound and flood breakwater wall top of the priority.

Merry Christmas

echostars — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:17:03 +0000

BrightStars cultural concert 2011

Rose Figtree was able to attend the 2011 Annual Cultural Concert at BrightStars. With Christmas so close we want to thank all our sponsors for making this great event in our school calander possible The many STARS put on a performance to impress any Bollywood talent scout. They were so bright and genuine in their performances of dance, song, mime, theatre and comedy. It was wonderful to see the sea of many colours of the saris worn by their proud mothers. Many fathers also attended to show support to their darling children who have taken to education with such a zeal and delight.

BrightStars School Annual Cultural Concert and Open Day

echostars — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:02:09 +0000

You’re Invited to our Annual
End of Year Cultural Concert.

BrightStars students asking you to come to the concert

This will be BrightStars second concert with much anticipated excitment building at the school. A wonderful time to visit BrightStars and see what a joyful and fulfilling impact the school is having on the lives of these children.
Date: Thursday Dec 8th 2011

Time: 9am to 10.30am

Venue: BrightStars School
6638 East Vatara, Badda, Gulshan, Dhaka

Telephone: BrightStars School: 01819259019
Chitto Halder: 017 4396 9647
Rose Figtree: 01741394399.

RSVP: Rose Figtree: rosefigtree@echostars.org

HOW TO GET THERE DIRECTIONS
BrightStars School is close to the American Embassy. You may need to be directed into BrightStars. We plan to meet guests at the Fire Station opposite the embassy and guide you to the school. When you RSVP we will organise this with you individually.

Hope to see you there.
Rose Figtree

EchoBeat ’11 Sunday Nov 13

echostars — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:21:13 +0000

Our annual garden concert EchoBeat will be held on Sunday Nov 13 from 12 pm.

Invitation ot EchoBeat '11

Meet Mr Chips @ Bright Stars Annual School Concert – Thursday Dec 8 ’11

echostars — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:37:55 +0000

Chitto went on from his missionary primary school in Jalirpar in Gopalgonj district to finally attain a Masters in English and then dedicated his work in education to giving access to primary education to the most vulnerable and disadvanaged children of his country. Chitto Halder’s dream to have his own school is now a reality. When Chitto and Rose Figtree got together in September 2009 the tables were set to finish Bright Stars and ensure its ongoing and long term success. Now with the final storey to be built and the school operating full time for 150 underprivilaged children and 74 special needs children his dream has surely come true.

The children are all in practice mode for the end of year concert. This is only the second such concert and there is much excitment and pride in the air. Thursday December 8 is now etched in the students excited expectations. Dance, mime and drama, poetry and song will be the order of the day. Rose watched them practising their songs accompanied by sign language for the benefit and better undertstanding between the special needs children and the other students. Fun to learn, fun to sing, fun just to be at school.

If you’re in Dhaka and would like to support our little school please email Rose on rosefigtree@echostars.org and we would love to see you there. We hope to visitors will attend the concert to see for themselves how far the school has come in just two years.

If you would like to help support us in this project please join the Bright Stars School Develpment Program by donating here.

It will be a great day of pride for all but especially for Mr Chitto Halder whose dream has created this door way to a future for these beautiful children and for many more to come. He really is Mr Chips!