Two trustees of the charity have written and illustrated a book ’The Street Is Not A Home’ that has been published by Bok Bok books. It was co-produced with children supported by LEEDO and is for children aged nine plus. It includes four fictional stories about children who survived on the streets of Dhaka. The stories are based on 18 real-life case studies. All profits from the sale of the book are being donated to support work undertaken by LEEDO with children on the streets of Dhaka. The session at the festival will include a story read from the book, discussion, songs, and drama from children who have been supported by LEEDO.
In an official statement from Saif Osmani, artist-illustrator to Asian Voice, he said, “During the global Covid-19 lockdown we held many online art drawing workshops with the street children and we heard their personal stories of living on the streets of Dhaka. I then interpreted these accounts into an animated realism style of painting, which seemed appropriate as we wanted a children’s book without hiding the harsh realities experienced by these children.” "The process we took was to interview 18 children whose stories cumulated into 4 fictional characters through whom we tell the stories of surviving on the streets before they arrived at a children's home, LEEDO Peace Home in Dhaka. The United Nations estimates around 150 million street connected children in the world today - that's a huge amount of the world's population and many are in Asia. These are some of the most vulnerable groups in the world, especially when climate change and natural disasters hit." “We are reaching out to the south Asian diaspora here in the UK to support our Crowdfunder where you can purchase a signed copy of the book and a series of rewards. The book is bilingual in English and Bengali. The book received a positive reception at the Dhaka Lit Fest 2023 and the Author Mike Sherriff and Illustrator Saif Osmani are not taking any fees, with all profits going towards the children's home. The Crowdfunder link is given here: https://www.crowdfunder.c o.uk/p/thestreetisnotahome “Your help will positively impact the children's lives because, during the Covid19 lockdown, the number of children at the Peace Home has doubled.
The children receive food, shelter and safety and also education. A few of the older children are now being trained to become nurses and teachers, so your help by purchasing the book 'The Street is Not a Home' will make a real tangible improvement to their lives.” To contact the UK charity Friends of Street Children Bangladesh, email: [email protected]. FSCBD website: www.friendsofscbd.wordpress.com
