Impact and Sustainability

Impact

UCEP's efforts have been acclaimed nationally, regionally and internationally. Economic, Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) bestowed its UN ESCAP HRD Runner up Award on UCEP twice, once in 1995 (declared in 1996) and again in 1997 (declared in 1998). UCEP is listed in the UN ESCAP's 'Compendium of Centres of Excellence in HRD Research and Training'.

Since its inception in 1972, UCEP extended support services to more than 171,016 poor working children. Considering each and every graduate as an "agent of change" in their peer group, the impact of UCEP education and its approach can not be underestimated as a national force for youth empowerment, specially when replications are taking place in various forms.

The impact of the holistic approach of UCEP on youth empowerment is long lasting, pervasive, significant and encompasses the graduates, their families and the community.

Prevention of Early Marriage / Parenthood

Early marriage and early parenthood have been an acute problem in the national arena, specially among the hardcore poor. UCEP curricula and education-cycle act as strong motivational factors in preventing early marriage, specially among girls. Girls, as change-agent in their families and peer circle, exert an immense influence in preventing early marriage and parenthood. This contributes to the reduction of infant mortality rate, neo-natal death, etc.

Positive Impact on Employers Community

Advertisements in the newspapers stating "UCEP graduates preferred", are clear indications of the preparedness of the prospective employers and the community as a whole to accept UCEP graduates as value added products resulting from a strong sense of discipline, integrity and etiquette that are imparted to each and every UCEP graduate through the socialization process that takes place in UCEP schools everyday. UCEP graduates have thus created a good impression on the employers as to their long-term credibility as blue-collar performers.

 

Sustainability

UCEP's programmes are designed for hardcore urban poor, mostly migrant from rural areas. This poorest of the poor segment of population steps into their youth when they graduate from UCEP schools. UCEP's HRD programmes for this youth population are still unique in global context. The socio-cultural sustainability of UCEP into the society of Bangladesh has been demonstrated over the last 36 years. The whole design of the program and the quality, motivation and dedication of the people who are executing it have made it very effective and worthy of replication. Total financial sustainability of an institution dealing with slum youth, however, cannot be a realistic goal.

Although sharing of cost by industries and recovery through sale of training products, philanthropic donations, beneficiaries' participation, etc. have all taken place and would continue to take place, a total self-finance for UCEP is far from reality.

UCEP's sustainability lies in its model and in its institutions. It is also the essence of its acceptability by the target group, community and the public at large.

In the national context, replications are many, some are in partial form, others are conceptual. Very recently, Directorate of Primery Education, underscoring the need for disciplined, well-groomed skilled manpower, has come up with a project for  hardcore poor children. No doubt, UCEP's proven model has influenced the decision-makers to pay due attention to the same. It may, therefore, be said that institutional and social sustainability of UCEP has been established

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