Adolescent Resource Center (ARC) is established by Agrogoti Sangstha in 2006 as aiming to improve the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights(SRHR) status as well practical learning and livelihood resource centre for adolescents. The center is situated in Sathkira District. The area has a backward image due to poverty, illiteracy, lack of knowledge on SRHR issue, male dominance, child marriage, child trafficking and women exploitation. During our intervention we realized that especially the adolescent girls faced problem to proper manage their menstruation as well their puberty changes. They could not share their difficulties with others and could not take proper hygienic and medical steps as a result they affected by different disease.
From that sense we initiated to establish such a center where the adolescent may get a free environment for sharing their all the relevant issues and finally the adolescent resource center is established to improve the Sexual Reproductive Health of the adolescent girls, offering them a broad range of possibilities to develop their capabilities as well socio-economic and cultural development. Observing the achievement of our initiative some other development partners like German Embassy, CIDA, USCC-B, Bangladesh Ngo Foundation, Save the Children, and VSO Bangladesh contributed to reflect the activity in a broader range.
Our strategy sees us move to a more programmatic focus to reduce the risk of Liguria, Reproductive tract infection (RTI), Urinary Tract infection, HIV AIDS, early marriage, Trafficking as well promoting capacity on leadership, income generating skill on different trade and focus to mainstreaming and environmental sustainability on the issues to carry forward them as resource in the society.
I. Objectives
A. To improve knowledge and capacity to manage Sexual reproductive health and rights of adolescent.
B. To capacitated on different IGA trade to open their opportunities for future employment.
C. To create a friendly environment where the adolescent will share their issues within their family and blooming their future with a favourable society.
II. Ongoing Project
> Promoting Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights
> Best school for Girls
> Sexual Exploitation of Children online and In Travel and Tourism
>Sustainable intervention to prevent Human Trafficking and to promote safe migration.
III. Main activities of ARC
Promoting Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights:
> Training on Sexual Reproductive health and rights.
> Training on Menstrual hygiene management.
> Training on connecting module to connect adolescent girls and parents for breaking the social taboo of menstrual hygiene and Puberty changes.
> Training on maternal health care issues.
> Counseling of adolescent girls during the menstrual period.
> Training on to prevent sexual exploitation of the adolescent girls.
> Low cost sanitary napkin pad distribution for adolescent girls and women through raising fund under Corporate Social responsibility (CSR).
> Technical Training on the method of producing homemade low cost sanitary napkin pad.
> Establish Information center on hygiene, sanitation and common diseases
> Training on HIV AIDS on other diseases.
Continuing Education:
> Library & reading books with children
> Observe national and international Days.
> Cultural activities and sports
> Community based information center
Income generating activities:
> Training on tailoring and weaving
> Training on biological agriculture and home gardening
> Training on packaging
> Offering cultural activities & sports
> Computer and Mobile servicing training
Protecting freedom:
> Risk Zone Mapping to prevent eve teasing
> Leadership development
> Engage adolescent in sports
> Early marriage prevention campaign
> Capacitated as a adolescent facilitator
> Campaign on prevention of human trafficking and unsafe migration.
IV. Contribution of ARC toward achieving SDG Goal
• Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
• Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
• Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels