News 25 years anniversary

Finally, with a year’s delay due to political unrest, we were able to celebrate Niketan and DRRA’s 25th anniversary with our children and their parents, staff and their families. Some of Niketan’s donors and board members also joined us for the celebrations.

The first day was dedicated to speeches. We were honored to receive our new Dutch Ambassador André Carstens and the Manikganj District Commissioner. The important role of long-term partnerships in promoting sustainable development in the communities was discussed. Antoinette (Niketan’s founder) thanked DRRA’s staff and director Farida Yesmin for their dedication and friendship. Some staff and volunteers have been working with Niketan for 25 years, so they were given special recognition.

“It’s wonderful that I’ve been allowed to be a part of your lives for such a long time. I’ve known many ‘children’ and staff members for more than 25 years. You all hold a special place in my heart and I hope to continue to be a part of your lives for a long time to come.” – Antoinette

The celebrations also included a three-day funfair for all our children, with a carousel, a mini Ferris wheel, a swing boat, various dance and singing performances, and a good lunch with chicken. There were games for every target group, such as who could crawl the fastest, collect the most balls in a bucket, who’s the best at the traditional Dutch games ‘koekhappen’ and ‘spijkerpoepen’, and who could keep their balloon from popping the longest. There was laughter, selfies were taken, and there was dancing and singing.

“My son participated in everything and he was so happy. It’s quite difficult to participate in a village funfair with my child with autism, so my son and I had a great time with a very nice day program. Many thanks to Niketan for organizing this event.” – Miru’s mother

“I was born without hands. I’m very ashamed of my disability, so I had never been to a funfair before. When I go outside, I always feel that people are looking at me, but there were no outsiders here and we were allowed to be who we are. I loved the swing boat, but one of the best things were the selfies with the foreigners. A huge thank you to the people who organized it. Next time, I would love to come again.” – Bobita

“Three days of celebrations with beautiful speeches, wonderful performances by the children, a real funfair and fun games. And all of this took place in a beautifully decorated marquee. What I won’t forget is the happy smiles on the children’s faces. Many thanks for allowing me to be a part of this.” – Lenie Riegen, donor

The last day was intended for DRRA-Niketan staff and their families. In large buses, the group went to an amusement park, where, in addition to the rides, they especially enjoyed spending time together, playing games and eating. At the end, everyone received a nice bag with a tin of real Dutch stroopwafel cookies.

“Nondon Park seemed like a dream. It was the first time I went to an amusement park with my family. We had a lot of fun, especially in the water park. It was a great experience, and I was able to forget about the daily stress for a while. The return journey was also a big party; we danced, sang and laughed. Thanks to Niketan for organizing this wonderful surprise for us.” – Onik, employee