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A Better Life

For Bangladeshis Living in America

  • Guidance/Knowledge /Assistance and Outreach
  • Job Skills and Free Programs
  • Spoken English
  • Battered and Abused People
  • Civic sense and Acceptable public behavior
  • Health, Hygiene and Medical Treatment
  • Men and Women in moral danger
  • Crimes -- What are considered crimes and what are not
  • Scholastic Counseling & Evaluation of Foreign Degrees
  • American Political Arena

A Better Life

For Bangladeshis Living in America

Adjusting in a different society has always been a difficult task, for just about everyone. This is especially true for those coming from a third world country to the United States of America. Many people from all over the world have chosen the United States as their new home.

"In a way, in a new society the new adult immigrant will find himself like a newborn baby. Everything is different and he or she will need to learn it all over again, from food to language; from culture to history. They will need support, assistance, guidance and, perhaps, someone to talk to; overall, a little bit of us. We, being an older generation (an old settler), must give this, if we do not who will?

The following are the most important sectors where the new settlers seek some information, assistance and guidance:

1. Job Skills and Placement: A vast majority of new settlers ( especially from Bangladesh) are educated from Bangladesh, however they find themselves doing very menial minimum wage jobs here in the United States. Those who do not have higher education from back home do possess skills from back home, but find themselves working as unskilled workers. With a little guidance and assistance as to how to prepare their qualities, qualification and education they could obtain a better job. Maybe just even letting them know that help is available; then where and how to look for it. There are many city and state government funded programs on job skills; and also many job placement centers.

2. Spoken English: I don't think we need to elaborate on how important knowing the language is.

3. Health and Hygiene: There are some new immigrants are fearful of going to the hospital, even when they are seriously ill due to the expense. However, it is very important to have medical check ups and treatment. Our Counselors can give advice on how and where low cost treatment is available, where they pay in installments or how they can obtain a low cost health insurance program. A Better Life will run a weekly free clinic for those who can not afford a doctor . It is embarrassing to mention about personal hygiene, however if nobody talks about it some people will never know.

4. Scholastic Counseling:  Today there are a lot of jobs available for environment graduates that may not be available five years from now. So today's high school graduates should get information on the future job market when he/she will graduate from college. Many parents should bring their children for higher education, but they may not know how. Some immigrants can even bring their adult children (over 21) as F-1 students, however they need to know how.

5. Battered Women & Abused Children: There are battered women in every society. Many of them know who to call and where to go for help and shelter. However, it is very difficult for a Bangladeshi girl to find help more so for a new immigrant. They are also fearful that they will have to face social stigmatism; lose their children and lose the only family they have in this country. Some of these issues of our heritage will need to be reevaluated for today's world.

6. Men and Women in Moral Danger:  There are men and women in every society who are susceptible to, "go astray." Some are looking for an escape from the daily pressures of life and begin using drugs. Many see the lure of easy money and fall into criminal and immoral activities like fraudulent schemes and prostitution. Many immigrants do not know that these things are wrong or what the disastrous results could be. Our Counselors can advise them and provide moral counseling. Should they need help, our Counselors can give advise on where and how help is available.

7. Crimes:   New immigrants in this country need to learn what activities are considered criminal and are punishable by law. Some things that are not considered crimes in Bangladesh are crimes in the United States vice versa some things that are crimes in Bangladesh are not considered so here. This should not come as surprise, but who would want to find themselves being questioned by the police or even arrested for doing something out of ignorance.

8. Civic Sense and Acceptable Public Behavior: If it was as easy as the old standard, "When in Rome do as the Romans do," everyone would do it. New immigrants must learn what is acceptable here; what the rules are - for they have changed. Civic responsibility is something obscure to the new immigrant who may or may not have been aware of it in Bangladesh, and yet is basic here, to fit in, in this society.

9. American Social and Political Arena:  It is extremely important for Bangladeshis living in America to be involved with their local community, schools and national political sectors. Without this involvement they will not be able to be fully informed of their rights, their children's rights or their elderly parents' rights.

OBJECTIVE As per the possible needs of Bangladeshis living in America that have been previously outlined, the organization's main objective will be to provide information and help Bangladeshis obtain the skills and knowledge of the American way of life they require. In doing so we hope to thereby improve their quality of life.

OPERATION

Tools:

Five executive officers to run the projects.

Eight qualified, dedicated, honorary guidance Counselors will comprise the management/advisory committee.

Donor General Members/Donor Corporations\Businesses

A classroom with an office

Eight telephone lines with ring mate service.

A central telephone number for general information

Features:

Organization will provide guidance, knowledge, assistance and outreach to Bangladeshis through regular telephone counseling, workshops, classrooms, guidance, seminars, forums featuring guest speakers and information through the news media.

Regular programs:

Eight dedicated qualified guidance Counselors will make themselves available to provide guidance, assistance, counseling and outreach at least once a week.

Special programs:

For those who can not afford the following on their own "A Better Life" will run special programs: A. Free Computer School B. Free Spoken English School C. Free Weekly Clinic D. Monthly information Class E. Whatever is necessary as advised by prospective guidance Counselor

Operations of Executive Committee

PRESIDENT

Qualifications: A professional degree and corporate management experience.

Duties and Responsibilities: The President is the head of the organization and will be held responsible to the general donor members and miscellaneous donor organizations for the activities of the organization. The President will also develop and organize informational brochures, classes, meetings, guidance sessions and provide information for the public through the local media.

Assistant DIRECTOR/SECRETARY

Qualifications: A degree and organizational management experience.

Duties and Responsibilities: Secretary will supervise all the activities of the organization. Secretary will develop and organize fund raising the organization. He will coordinate the Counselors' activities. The Secretary will also assist the President as needed. Additionally, can be available at least one evening for two hours a week to counsel Bangladeshis by telephone.

Controller

Qualifications: A professional degree and related experience. This position will be appointed by the board of trustees. Controller will be responsible for all the financial transactions of the organization. He will also act as the representative of the board of trustees, will prepare an annual financial statement and will make it available to the board of trustees and the donor organizations. This will be certified by a certified public accountant.

Honorary Guidance Counselors

Counselor I - job skills & government funded programs available
Qualifications: A professional degree and City, State government or Corporate Management experience.
Duties and Responsibilities: As stated under the same heading in the application section.

 

Counselor II - Spoken English & acceptable conversational vocabulary

Qualifications: A professional degree and related experience.

Duties and Responsibilities: As stated under the same heading in the application section.

 

Counselor III - Battered Women & Children

Qualifications: A professional degree preferably in Law and related experience.

Duties and Responsibilities: As stated under the same heading in the application section

 

Counselor IV - civic sense & acceptable public behavior

Qualifications: A professional degree and related experience

Duties and Responsibilities: As stated under the same heading in the application section.

        

Counselor V - Health & Hygiene

Qualifications: A professional degree preferably in Medicine or Life Science.

Duties and Responsibilities: As stated under the same heading in the application section

        

Counselor VI - Men & Women in moral danger

Qualifications: A professional degree and related experience

Duties and Responsibilities: As stated under the same heading in the application section.

        

Counselor VII - crimes

Qualifications: A professional degree, preferably in Law, and related experience.

Duties and>Responsibilities: As stated under the same heading in the application section.

        

Counselor VIII - scholastic counseling

Qualifications: A professional degree and related experience

Duties and Responsibilities: As stated under the same heading in the application section.

 

Counselors can from time to time offer special services as needed. They can also develop and organize brochures, classes, meetings, and guidance sessions. Counselors can also provide information for the public through the local media or other means, either through articles or by news releases on their related field of expertise with the concern of the Director.

APPLICATION

Government Funded Programs Job Skills Guidance:

Regular Service: ABL will provide information as to how and from where people can obtain these services. A Counselor of ABL will donate an evening a week to render this information via telephone. Special Service: ABL will correlate information on the Government Funded Programs into a news release and make it available at our guidance classes and through the media. ABL will also offer vocational counseling to inform new Bangladeshis about the American job market, job hunting and resume writing both in a classroom setting and on an individual basis.

Spoken English And acceptable conversational vocabulary:

Regular Service: ABL will furnish information as to how and from where people can obtain these services. A Counselor of ABL will donate an evening a week to render this information via telephone.

Special Service: ABL will provide a spoken English class as well as information on other free spoken English classes.

Battered Women and Children:

Regular Service: A Counselor of the organization will donate an evening a week to provide counseling, information, referral and educational services to callers via telephone. Special Service: ABL will provide information on services available for battered women and children through non-profit organizations, non-government funded programs and government funded programs. Counseling services will be provided through ABL or through expert professionals. Relocation assistance Legal referrals

Civic Sense and Acceptable Behavior Health and Hygiene:

Regular Service: A Counselor of the organization will make himself available at least an evening a week to counsel, inform and educate callers via telephone. Special Service: ABL will invite guest speakers to address the above issues at a public forum. Pamphlets highlighting the main issues will be distributed and made available to the public. These issues will also be addressed at spoken English Classes and other guidance classes. A weekly free clinic will be run by ABL for those who can not afford a doctor.

Men and Women in Moral Danger:

Regular Service: ABL will furnish information as to how and from where people in this situation can obtain services. A Counselor of ABL will dedicate himself an evening a week to provide this information via telephone. Special Service: ABL will gather information on services available to people in destitute circumstances. An outreach network of families will be developed to offer low cost rooms to those in need. ABL will gather information on job training through government funded programs. Counseling services will be offered through ABL or through city funded programs.

Crimes:

Regular Service: ABL will furnish information on what are and are not crimes n the USA. A Counselor of ABL will dedicate himself an evening a week to provide this information via telephone. Special Service: ABL will gather information on services available to people in who have inadvertently broken the law and require legal assistance.. Counseling services will be offered through ABL or through city funded programs.

Scholastic Counseling:

Regular Service: ABL will furnish information as to how and from where people can obtain these services. A Counselor of ABL will donate an evening a week to render this information via telephone. Special Service: ABL will provide a guidance class as well as information on scholastic opportunities.

ACCOUNTING

All the accounting for the organization will be maintained by the Controller and will be certified by a certified public accountant once a year.

A financial Statement will be made available at the General Annual Meeting.

Benefactors Wanted

Qualified Counselors (Honorary Position):

Several special people are needed to provide Guidance, Knowledge, Assistance and Outreach .

Just one hour of your time can change the lives of so many people. A college drop out can become a Doctor, A new immigrant can find the American way of life, A battered woman can find a place to stay, An outlaw will obey the law, An unskilled laborer will become a skilled laborer, A person will learn to communicate in English. Ergo, you can improve another's quality of life.

Most of this help is available through City, State, and Federally funded programs, and others even through local communities. All you do is to guide them-and in some cases, provide assistance and outreach

Duties and Responsibilities:

A) Regular Services : Counselors will make themselves available at least one evening a week to counsel Bangladeshis living in America by telephone. A private home telephone number will be provided to maintain the privacy of their home phones.

B) Special Services : Counselors can from time to time offer special services as needed. They can develop and organize brochures, classes, meetings and guidance sessions. They can also provide information for the public through the local media via articles or news releases on their related field of expertise with the concern of the President.

Position : Counselor, Job Skills and Govt. Funded Programs.

Qualifications : A Professional Degree and City, State government or Corporate Management experience.

Position : Counselor, Spoken English & Acceptable Conversational Vocabulary

Qualifications : A Masters Degree in English and Teaching experience.

Position : Counselor, Men & Women in Moral Danger

Qualifications : A professional degree preferably in Law with knowledge of social science. Prior guidance experience will be helpful.

Position:  Counselor, Scholastic Counseling.

Qualifications : A professional Degree and prior experience as F-1 student.

Position : Counselor, Crimes ( What are considered crimes and what are not)

Qualification : A professional degree in Law ( J.D preferred) and New York State Bar license.

Position : Counselor, Civic Sense and Acceptable Public Behavior

Qualifications : A professional degree and related experience. Teaching experience will be a plus.

Position : Counselor, Battered Women & Children

Qualifications : A professional degree, preferably in Law and related experience.

Position : Counselor, Health & Hygiene

Qualifications : A professional degree preferably in Medicine or Life Science.

Please respond by phone, fax or Email as listed below:

Ehsan Imdad
45 Kirkwood Drive
Locust Valley, NY 11542



General Information

"A Better Life" for Bangladeshis living in America.

To Adopt or Incorporate "A Better Life" Project into your organization or the "A Better Life" project itself - Please call the Bangladesh Association of New York at (877) 828-3185 or email us at info@bany-ny.org. The "A Better Life" project is a pilot program of the Bangladesh Association of New York.