Sajib: Pulling plastic from the canal to build his own boat

Nine-year-old Sajib did not go to school. To help his grandmother feed the family, he collected plastics and other recyclable waste. When he noticed that most of the plastic gathered in the water beneath the slum, he and a friend built their own boat out of it. Today, however, Sajib has been given a chance that could steer his life in a completely new direction – he goes to school and dreams of becoming a manager one day.

A plastic boat to earn a few taka for rice

Sajib lives with his grandmother in the Chalantika slum in Dhaka. His father left the family, and his mother returned to relatives in southern Bangladesh with his two younger siblings. Sajib stayed in Dhaka to help his grandmother, who works as a domestic helper.

However, her earnings were barely enough to cover basic needs, let alone the expenses associated with Sajib’s education.

So the young boy tried to contribute to the household budget in his own way. He started collecting paper, plastics, and other materials he could sell at scrap yards. He brought the money he earned to his grandmother. Together, they used it to buy rice and lentils or contribute towards rent.

He soon noticed that most of the plastic was floating in the water beneath the slum, where he could not reach it easily. So he and a friend from the neighbourhood built a simple boat from the plastic they had collected. This allowed them to venture further into the water and collect more waste than before.

A boy whose name means “full of life”

Sajib’s life unfolds in an environment that is far from a healthy or safe place for children. The Chalantika slum stands on bamboo stilts over polluted water, where waste flows from nearby buildings and the slum itself.

Sajib is a curious, playful, and lively boy. His name in Bengali means “full of life”. But he grew up in an environment where children often have to fend for themselves from an early age. As a result, he had little opportunity to develop the routines, hygiene habits, and other skills he would need at school and later in working life.

Yet he has a big dream. When he grows up, he wants to be a manager at a company and earn enough money to take care of his grandmother and mother.

From collecting rubbish to a seat in the classroom

Until recently, Sajib could never have imagined going to school. The turning point came with the Chalantika Centre.

Here, he learnt to read and write in Bengali, do maths, and gained the basics of English. Step by step, he also learnt how to follow a regular routine, practise good hygiene, and be part of a group. After completing pre-school preparation, he enrolled in a mainstream state school. The boy who used to spend part of his days collecting waste is now an enthusiastic schoolboy.

He continues to attend the Chalantika Centre after school hours. There, he receives tutoring, school supplies, a nutritious lunch, and necessary medical care. Most importantly, he has a safe place where he can play, learn, and gradually develop his abilities.

An opportunity to build a better future

Sajib’s boat was made from trash discarded by others. But for him, it represented a way to earn a little extra money and help his grandmother.

Today, he holds something far more valuable in his hands – the chance to get an education. Through school, he can learn not only to read, write, and count, but also gain the knowledge and skills needed to make his dream come true one day.

Sajib is still growing up in the slum, and his family continues to struggle with poverty. But his journey can look very different now. The boy who managed to build a boat out of plastic waste is today being given the chance to build a better future.