Friendship’ Satellite School Programme is an innovative model of cooperative-managed satellite schools funded by both the community and the organisation. Friendship’s school programme has become immensely popular among the char communities and there is a strong demand for schools in many of the other chars. Friendship has taken the initiative to set up community-based schools through cooperatives in the char areas with very limited external funds, in order to meet this demand in a very limited extent.
The project involves intensive community participation where the land needed for setting up a school is donated by the community while the school construction cost has been sponsored by Friendship. Friendship is providing the teachers’ salaries for up to six months. During the rest of the project period this cost will be covered by the community. A revolving fund as well as training support will be given to the School Management Committee for initiating regular income generation activities. Friendship project staff provides all necessary support to the School Management Committee.
Currently there are 41 satellite schools where about 1200 students are attending.