Three big rivers e.g. Teesta, Brahmaputra and Jamuna flows through Gaibandha district. The district is extremely poverty and disaster prone. The people have to lead their life by struggling against flood, river bank erosion, drought, cold spell, and seasonal food crisis almost every year. Economy of the area is completely dependent on agriculture, which cannot ensure working opportunity for the large number of landless day laborers round the year. During the lean period, the people did not have any other option than selling their labor in advance. Male members of many families used to go to other places of the country in search of work, leaving the women and children behind in big uncertainty. Economic and social status of women was not good at all. Although they had to work day and night to take care of the children and other household works, they had no proper recognition. They had very limited access to health and education. They were not aware about their rights. Different types of superstitions, religious fanaticism and backward social dogmas at rural areas had been dominating the life of women. In these circumstances, a group of dedicated social activists established Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK) in 1985 for the purpose to reduce poverty by bringing positive sustainable changes in the lives and livelihoods of disadvantaged poor people.
The Organisation is working with the aim to bring a sustainable improvement in the lives of disadvantaged poor people through implementing different integrated programmes focusing on Livelihood & Food Security, Education & Child Protection, Disaster Risk Reduction & Emergency Response, Climate Change Adaptation, Safe Migration, Inclusive Financing, Women Empowerment, Human Rights, Good Governance, Skills Development & Job Placement of Youths, Health, Nutrition & WASH, Disability Inclusive Development, Agriculture & Market Linkage, Research & Policy Influence etc.
Initially the organization started its activities in Gaibandha district and presently it is working in 12 districts across Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna and Chattogram divisions including Rohingya Refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf Upazila of Cox’s Bazar.
Organisational Division for Eradicating Poverty & Empowering People.
| a. Social Development | b. Microfinance & Economic Empowerment | c. Social Business & Enterprises |
a. Social Development Sector
Under the Social Development Sector, the organization carries out different development and humanitarian projects. Currently, a total of 35 projects are being implemented in collaboration with government and non-government development partners including INGOs, UN agencies as well as GUK own resources. Major focus areas of this sector are Livelihood & Food Security, Education & Child Protection, Disaster Risk Reduction & Emergency Response, Climate Change Adaptation, Inclusive Financing, Women Empowerment, Human Rights, Good Governance, Skills Development & Job Placement of Youths, Health, Nutrition & WASH, Disability Inclusive Development, Agriculture & Market Linkage, Research & Policy Influence etc.
b. Microfinance and Economic Empowerment
GUK is operating Livelihood Microfinance Programme (LMP) for economic empowerment of disadvantaged people especially women through inclusive financing. It is the core programme of the organization. It was initiated in line with other development projects with the aim of bringing sustainable development especially in the lives of women and disadvantaged population. Currently, the LMP is being operated in 8 districts under Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions through its 53 outlets. Over 60,000 households are currently involved with this programme and among them 52371 households have received loan support for different income generation activities as well as Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The organization have some products for inclusive financing through which we are empowering poor people including women entrepreneur development.
c. Social Business & Enterprises
GUK have some social business for the better interest of poor people which are creating employment opportunities and market linkage to get fair price. These initiatives are also contributing in making social changes. The social businesses are:
(a) GUK Institute of Engineering and Technology (GUKIET);
(b) Super Tasty Food Products;
(c) GUK Printers;
(d) GUK Agro Farm (Poultry & Diary Farm, Nursery);
(e) GUK Diagnostic & Physiotherapy Centre;
(f) GUK De-addiction and Rehabilitation centre;
(g) GUK Media (Daliy Ajker Janagan, Prantik TV-online, Radio Amar Katha)
Priority Geographic Location
- Disaster and poverty prone areas;
- River basin areas and chars (river island);
- Most vulnerable and ethnic communities;
- Migrated and refugee communities.
Development Programme Participant:
The organisation always gives priority for inclusion of the following group of people in its development interventions.
- Poor, extreme poor female and male;
- Persons and children with disabilities;
- Indigenous people;
- Marginalized farmers;
- Small and medium entrepreneurs;
- Children;
- Adolescents and youth;
- Disadvantaged people living in the vulnerable and hard to reach locations;
- People who suffer due to unsafe migration.
Cross Cutting Issues
Following are the cross cutting issues of GUK which are considered with high priority during designing or implementation any project.
| Gender | Child Protection | Climate Change & DRR | Disability and Ethnic Minority |