Follow our progress
Donations make a huge difference in the lives of the children at Maria.
Lots more photos at Life at Maria
Join us for the Grand Opening of the Tessa Beauchamp Foundation Purple Basketball Court! Also featured are the Md Akbar Hossain Memorial Library, Farhana School, Maria Orphanage and the lush and beautiful Natore Region.
January 2025
Air Conditioning Powered by IPS Battery
In late 2024, our Society funded the purchase and installation of an IPS (Instant Power Supply) battery system at Farhana School and Maria Orphanage. The battery stores energy to provide backup power when the main power supply fails. This will help run an air conditioner during the hot months, as well as maintain electricity and internet access during frequent power failures.
In addition to keeping the students and staff cool, and Farhana school open, the space will be open to community members as a place to escape the heat. The IPS at the Orphanage will also provide welcome relief for the students studying there.
February 2024 Education Campaign
We are thrilled that our incredible students and dedicated teachers participated in the 2024 Farhana School education campaign.
They passionately advocated for the importance of education and highlighted the fantastic resources available at our school, including our library, scholarships, and basketball court.
January 2024
Lots of new books were added to the Md Akbar Hossain Memorial Library.
First ever book fair at Farhana School. The children and teachers were excited to share their favourite stories.
Fall 2023
Md Akbar Hossain Memorial Library
The children are excited to have access to a selection of library books. The library is also open to the community.
2023 Girls and Boys Assemble
The children from Maria continue to thrive at their lessons at Farhana school.
A small library has been created and large screen monitors have been added to the classrooms.
The kids are excited about learning!
Read our Blog posts for more details!
May 2022 - Board member, Asif, visits the children
A very successful visit to Maria Village and the Orphanage:
two new computers set-up
football and soccer games played
meeting with teacher
Read the May 2022 blog for more details!
March 2022 - Schools Re-Open
Due to COVID-19, schools were closed for about a month. However, schools have now re-opened and the children were eager to hop on the electric van for the 10 km drive to Farhana School in Dhupoil. This is a very popular form of transportation in Bangladesh - very slow, but reliable.
Jan 2022 - Ready, Set, Go to School
Thanks to donations, Maria children are now attending Farhana School in Dhupoil. Donations were used for registration ($7.50 per child), monthly fees ($3 per child), uniforms ($25 per child) backpacks, books and transport.
Dollar values in Canadian.
Nov 2021 - Farhana School
A field trip to Farhana School was a great success! A number of the Maria students will be attending Farhana in January 2022!
Nov 2021 - Bhutbhuti
Named for the sound that it makes, the bhutbhuti will transport the children to Farhana School - 40 minutes away.
Nov 2021 - Second Water Pump Installed
The children and villagers now have easier access to fresh water for drinking and crops. Local labourers completed this project in record time!
Oct 2021 - Water pump station complete!
Successful completion of the installation of the first water pump station. No longer a 20 minute walk to fetch drinking water.
Sept 2021 - Water pump station installation!
First of two water stations will make access to drinking water and irrigation much easier for the children, the villagers and farmers of Maria.
Two pump stations @ $150 CA each (including local labour)
Sept 2021 - Excitement returning to school!
Lockdown has been eased somewhat, so the children are keen to be back. A computer, large monitor and internet access will bring a whole new dimension to their lessons!
Sept 2021 - Fresh Paint Makes a Big Difference!
Local painters spruced up the Orphanage, inside and out! See more photos under Life at Maria. Total cost for paint, plaster and labour: $521.00. This cost was shared with a local partner.
The children will have a chance to add their artistic expression to one of the inside walls!
May 2021 - Celebrating Ramadan
A special dinner for the children!
Chicken curry
Lentil curry
Salad
2 types of sweets
Sweet yogurt
Cold drinks
($29.00 fed 13 children & 3 adults)
Children fishing (May 2021)
A good catch on this day. Enough for lunch.
March 2021 - Letters from Canada!
Letters from Comox, BC took 3 weeks to arrive - they were well worth the wait! The kids also loved the stickers that were enclosed with the letters!
February 2021 - Rice Delivery Day
Rice is a staple of the childrens’ diet. One sack of rice, pictured here, is approximately $33.00 CDN.
February 2021 - Desks and Benches
A local carpenter built these desks and benches so that the children don’t have to sit on the floor to study and to eat.
November 2020
Local tradespeople built and installed new window and door grills for added security and weather protection. New tin roof to replace the collapsed roof on the washroom building.
November 2020
Window and door grills arrive. Cost of local labour and supplies was $570.oo CDN.
Prior to November 2020
The Kitchen
Many meals are created by the chef at Maria.
Donations make a huge difference in the lives of the children at Maria.
Lots more photos at Life at Maria
2023 Girls and Boys Assemble
The children from Maria continue to thrive at their lessons at Farhana school.
A small library has been created and large screen monitors have been added to the classrooms.
The kids are excited about learning!
Read our Blog posts for more details!
May 2022 - Board member, Asif, visits the children
A very successful visit to Maria Village and the Orphanage:
two new computers set-up
football and soccer games played
meeting with teacher
Read the May 2022 blog for more details!
March 2022 - Schools Re-Open
Due to COVID-19, schools were closed for about a month. However, schools have now re-opened and the children were eager to hop on the electric van for the 10 km drive to Farhana School in Dhupoil. This is a very popular form of transportation in Bangladesh - very slow, but reliable.
Jan 2022 - Ready, Set, Go to School
Thanks to donations, Maria children are now attending Farhana School in Dhupoil. Donations were used for registration ($7.50 per child), monthly fees ($3 per child), uniforms ($25 per child) backpacks, books and transport.
Dollar values in Canadian.
Nov 2021 - Farhana School
A field trip to Farhana School was a great success! A number of the Maria students will be attending Farhana in January 2022!
Nov 2021 - Bhutbhuti
Named for the sound that it makes, the bhutbhuti will transport the children to Farhana School - 40 minutes away.
Nov 2021 - Second Water Pump Installed
The children and villagers now have easier access to fresh water for drinking and crops. Local labourers completed this project in record time!
Oct 2021 - Water pump station complete!
Successful completion of the installation of the first water pump station. No longer a 20 minute walk to fetch drinking water.
Sept 2021 - Water pump station installation!
First of two water stations will make access to drinking water and irrigation much easier for the children, the villagers and farmers of Maria.
Two pump stations @ $150 CA each (including local labour)
Sept 2021 - Excitement returning to school!
Lockdown has been eased somewhat, so the children are keen to be back. A computer, large monitor and internet access will bring a whole new dimension to their lessons!
Sept 2021 - Fresh Paint Makes a Big Difference!
Local painters spruced up the Orphanage, inside and out! See more photos under Life at Maria. Total cost for paint, plaster and labour: $521.00. This cost was shared with a local partner.
The children will have a chance to add their artistic expression to one of the inside walls!
May 2021 - Celebrating Ramadan
A special dinner for the children!
Chicken curry
Lentil curry
Salad
2 types of sweets
Sweet yogurt
Cold drinks
($29.00 fed 13 children & 3 adults)
Children fishing (May 2021)
A good catch on this day. Enough for lunch.
March 2021 - Letters from Canada!
Letters from Comox, BC took 3 weeks to arrive - they were well worth the wait! The kids also loved the stickers that were enclosed with the letters!
February 2021 - Rice Delivery Day
Rice is a staple of the childrens’ diet. One sack of rice, pictured here, is approximately $33.00 CDN.
February 2021 - Desks and Benches
A local carpenter built these desks and benches so that the children don’t have to sit on the floor to study and to eat.
November 2020
Local tradespeople built and installed new window and door grills for added security and weather protection. New tin roof to replace the collapsed roof on the washroom building.
November 2020
Window and door grills arrive. Cost of local labour and supplies was $570.oo CDN.
Prior to November 2020
The Kitchen
Many meals are created by the chef at Maria.