Top: Emma Pugh helps hand out blankets; Middle: The queue for the blankets; Above: A beggar in Dhaka
'We attracted massive attention wherever we went. The large crowds that gathered where quite off putting at first but we never felt threatened.'

For ten eventful days earlier this year, we saw for ourselves the work that CCDB (Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh), the United Reformed Church Commitment for Life and Christian Aid partner, is involved in.

Seven of us went on the trip, led by Max Khanna for Christian Aid, with myself as assistant leader, and five members of local churches from all over the UK.

Each of us met people and heard stories that touched us in different ways. I think that all of us felt very humbled for the entire trip.

When we first arrived in Dhaka my first impression was how noisy it was and crowded. Hardly surprising really as Bangladesh is the most densely populated country in the world. We attracted massive attention wherever we went. The large crowds that gathered where quite off putting at first but we never felt threatened.

Bangladesh has more than its fair share of emergencies. It regularly suffers from massive flooding and cyclones. Whilst we were there the country was in the middle of a different type of emergency - the coldest winter for 30 years.

CCDB's central staff decided that something needed to be done. Within about 36 hours emergency distributions of blankets had started. In Chapainawabganj at a local primary school blankets were given out, along with a planned distribution of new school uniforms for the local children.

We saw three such distributions and hundreds of blankets were given out at each. It happened so amazingly quickly - because another CCDB project had already made the blankets, stored against need.

Forum
We questioned whether the blankets were going to the people who needed them most and discovered that each village has a local forum that makes the decisions on which family is in most need. There did not seem to be any worry of 'insider dealing' in fact all the communities we visited seemed to be very caring towards each other and willing to share as much as they could.

After that we moved on see how CCDB was coping with the huge arsenic problem in Bangladesh. Arsenic has been discovered in many tube wells around the country and literally millions of Bangladeshi people have been consuming arsenic poisoned water for many years without realizing it. In response to this, CCDB has an arsenic mitigation project to deal with the issue.

We met an elderly gentleman Kalu Mondl from the village of Upa Raja Rampur who is suffering from arsenic poisoning due to a contaminated well that he has been using for 22 years. He told us that 2 members of his family have already died due to arsenic poisoning and how most of his family were suffering from ill health.

Change
Things are changing. Kalu is receiving good quality treatment and advice on his condition and diet from a CCDB health clinic. This treatment, along with clean water, is helping Kalu's health to improve.
It is estimated that the arsenic begins at about 60ft underground, which is why the deep tube wells have been contaminated. CCDB have been helping communities to build new 'dug wells' at about 35 - 40ft.

There are nine such wells in Kalu's village and one of those is in his home. The new wells are clearly marked so that people know which wells are safe and which aren't. Safe wells are painted green and contaminated wells are painted red.

It was overwhelming to see the people of the villages show us their new dug wells. We saw one in the process of being dug by local people for local people. They are helping themselves and they are rightly very proud of what they are doing.

Poverty
Before I went on this trip I was very worried about how I would react to the poverty I knew I would see. Whilst we were travelling around Dhaka we saw many people and children begging us for such a little amount of money. It was so hard to deal with because I knew that in my purse I would have had more money than they could ever dream of having.

As we moved to visit the projects things changed. The people we visited are simply inspirational. They warmly invited us into their homes and gave us refreshments. They answered all our questions and shared with us their amazing stories.

The people we met are materially very poor, but they have riches that we can only dream of. They smiled and were proud of all they had achieved and determined to achieve more. When we met CCDB's Director he said that Christian Aid and the churches in the UK are their neighbours. I want to think that too. The URC's Commitment for Life is about supporting each other, praying for each other and learning to live fairly and justly with everyone.

Article appears courtesy of 'Reform', the magazine of the United Reformed Church