This year Tokyo-Bangladesh Work Camp was held at Dinajpur YMCA on March 5-20, 2002. Twenty-eight youths from Tokyo YMCA and 7 youth from our local YMCAs actively participated at the Camp. Mr.Makoto Haneda, Mr.Taro Hoshino and Mr.Takashi Kurihara, Officers from the Tokyo YMCA also participated at the Work Camp.

All the participants divided themselves into several groups to participate in work components like installing 30 sanitary toilets, repairing 5 houses and preparing beds for sowing assorted vegetables seeds.

In the evenings, the Campers had the opportunity to visit local NGO's activities, hospital, schools and historical places. They also spent a couple of days with the host families with a view to understand the real Bangladeshi life style.

In the evenings after dinner-time the participants gathered for daily evaluation and group wise presentations on social issues of both the countries which were very lively and pragmatic. The group expressed their feelings through kits, picture, songs etc.

At the conclusion of the Camp, a cultural program was performed by the participants and members of the Dinajpur YMCA. Typical Japanese food was prepared by the participants to entertain the guests on that day.

In the final evaluation, all the participants expressed their satisfaction by participating at the Camp. They also recommended to continue this Camp with a view to understand the reality of Bangladesh through their work at the field, visitation, home stay and cultural exchange which will help them for understanding Bangladesh better and as well it will strengthen the Tokyo-Bangladesh Partnership.

We do express our heartfelt thanks to all the Campers for their active participation. We are also thankful to the Villagers, Churches, Government & Non-Government Organizations, Host Families and the Dinajpur YMCA for all kind cooperation which made this camp a significant one.

The  Work  Camp  was  conducted  by  Mr.Michael Das,  assisted by Mr.Duke Mazumder, Mr.Bipul Gilbert Rozario and Mr.Subal Seraphin Hasda.