Bangladesh, Jamalpur District
£25,200
Floating Vegetable Cultivation Project. 
Funds for: organic seeds and the construction costs (bamboo, netting/fencing, labour) to make 1200 floating platforms on which to grow vegetables.
Beneficiaries: direct - 400 people and indirect - 1,600 people. All are landless poor and extreme poor beneficiaries and their households.
Poor people of this area are exposed to environmental disasters (particularly floods, surface and ground water pollution and air pollution from the cities);
hazards from the lack of public services (especially health) and the lack of basic sanitation and latrines – all risks which often result in associated diseases. Flooding and river erosion exacerbates the local poverty, homelessness, unemployment and damage of crops. This adds to the problem of food insecurity.
Aim of Project Funding: Floating beds will be constructed on the public waterways and planted up with vegetables that can grow all year round. Types of crops that will be grown: beans, cabbage, cucumber, chilli, egg plant (aubergine), garlic, gourds (bitter/sweet/sour/white), green leafy vegetables (such as spinach), onion, potato, tomato, water arum and other local vegetables.
Additionally, during the annual floods, for 5-7 days the floating platforms can be covered with a special kind of mat and used as a shelter for humans, animals, and household articles (up to a certain weight depending on the size of the platform). At that time the platforms are not being used for cultivation and so no damage is caused.
The project will improve the livelihoods and food security of the poorest segment of Bangladeshi rural society. It will allow for the cultivation of a wide range of fast growing, organic crops and will contribute to food security and healthy nutrition.
Surpluses will be sold for income generation, primarily providing funds to cover additional food needs during the current period of soaring food prices.
Financed through Concern Universal (Hereford, UK) working with local partner Dhaka Ahsania Mission; as part of a larger group of 10,000 beneficiaries taking part in an EU Food Facility project that is currently being carried out by Concern Universal.
Bangladesh - Satkhira District
£5,366
Arsenic-free Safe Drinking Water in Rural Bangladesh. Arsenic Removal Plant Project for the Braja Baksa Village of Helatala Union, Kalaroa, Satkhira District, Bangladesh.
Funds for: a community managed water filtering system, to provide: an entire arsenic removal water filtration plant. The funding will provide: pumps to extract ground water, storage tanks to store the water before filtering, storage tanks for arsenic-free water, construction of housing for the arsenic filters and storage tanks, training for community members on the operation and maintenance of the system.
Beneficiaries: direct - 250 households (1,250 people); which is 60% of the population of the village.
Indirect - 300 people at the market area (shops and basic guest house).
Bangladesh is the most densely populated country in the world. Almost half of the population are at risk from life-threatening diseases (gangrene and cancer) as a result of using arsenic contaminated water. The impact on health from arsenic contamination affects people's livelihoods and their capacity to work and to generate an income.
Aim of Project: This community led project will supply the village with a clean, safe supply of arsenic-free drinking water at an affordable cost.
It came out of a previous model scheme from 2008, which was envisaged and implemented by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and for which Vegfam funded a similar plant. It was hoped that the scheme would be taken up by others - setting up similar initiatives in other areas. The scheme was a success and more plants are being set up as a result (funded by other organisations).
The purpose built water supply centre will be operated and maintained by local people.
As part of a larger model scheme, this project should encourage communities in other areas to take up similar initiatives.
Benefits of the safe water will include: lower infant mortality and higher longevity among the community generally, better health, the chance to improve livelihoods, to attend school, to increase income and be able to take up other opportunities.
Financed through Dhaka Ahsania Mission UK (in Devon), working with in-country partner Dhaka Ahsania Mission Bangladesh.