LJMU celebrates links with 'mother and child' charity

LJMU proudly marked the anniversary in Liverpool of one of the world’s most admired charities for mothers and their children.

Sreepur Community in Bangladesh was established in 1989 to provide a safe and supportive home for hundreds of women ostracized or penniless for being single mothers.

LJMU supports the charity through School of Education lecturer Janette Porter who is the chair of trustees and our students learn about educational issues globally through Janette’s work out there.

“I first got involved in 1990 when my mother visited and I became a volunteer in Liverpool fundraising for the charity. As an educationalist, I was fascinated with their work and I became an advisor to the board of trustees and am now chair of trustees,” says Janette.

The community, is purpose built village, 50 miles north of Dhaka which provides a home for women unable to support their children because of cultural pressures against single mothers.

In Bangladesh women bringing up children on their own are very vulnerable, and many mothers historically gave up their children. Sreepur village is a charity that keeps mothers and their children together.

So mothers and children seek refuge at Sreepur where the focus is strongly on providing mothers with vocational training and children with an education and the chance to experience a childhood rather than be forced into child labour.

Janette has contributed to the science curriculum at Sreepur, working with charity patron Lady Sue Tunnicliffe honorary associate professor at UCL and with the support of the Absolute Chemistry team at LJMU. She has also run workshops at Sreepur on things like the science of safe drinking water. 

Students in Liverpool also benefit, she says: “Undergraduate students learn about the global aspects of teaching and innovative and creative methods and approaches. This is a real-life case which we use and interrogate.

“I also share with my students how Sreepur works towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The 35^th Anniversary event was celebrated in Liverpool and London where the major supporters and donors are based.

Dr Emma Roberts, Associate Dean for global Engagement in the Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies, said; “Janette’s work with the village has supported countless mothers and children and helped them to empower themselves.  This is very much in line with LJMU’s values to be a socially engaged university.”