BSA Troop 1776 - Neshanic, NJ

     In January I used my vacation time to travel to Bangladesh where I volunteered with Hands On

Disaster Response (HODR.org) and worked to help some people in a cyclone ravished area of

Bangladesh rebuild their homes and lives. Before I went I contacted a National Scout leader in Dhaka,

the capital city of Bangladesh, and asked him if he thought I might be able to meet Scouts in the

remote area where I would be working. He said he did not know, but it was possible. There are

remote pockets of Scouting all around the country. My wish was to work with Scouts on a local

community service project.

     When I arrived at the volunteer center in Rayenda, Bangladesh, I met the Project director and after

some general conversation he discovered that I was a Boy Scout Leader. Mark told me that his Father

was an Eagle Scout and he was very proud of his accomplishment. He also told me that he had met a

great boy in town who had acted as his translator and helped him find his way around the village when

he first arrived. He also told me that the boy was a Boy Scout, a River Scout which is part of the

venture program. I told Mark I would like to meet Rakib. On my first day off Mark took me to meet

this Bangladesh Boy Scout. Rakib took me on a tour of the village, and later we met his family. He

talked much about his scouting experiences and his desire to earn the Bangladesh Presidential

Scouting Award. This is the equivalent of an Eagle Scout in the US. He proudly showed me a

program from the Bangladesh Centennial of Scouting Jamboree he attended in 2007. Rakib also

showed me his report card. He had all A’s. He informed me that he wanted go to medical school and

to become a doctor. His family is very poor and cannot afford to pay for his school and his scouting

events. I thought I would go to Bangladesh, meet a scout, do a service project, and return home with

only a memory of the experience. I found out “be careful what you wish for”. I came back feeling an

obligation to help a Boy Scout named Rakib to become a doctor. Following is a message that Rakib

gave to me to pass on to the Boy Scouts in the USA.

     My all Scouter friends, first by I like to give you my cordial love. You know before about me by

Bob. I think that he told you about my condition. Now I am staying such a situation that not being

capable of continuance of my educational expenses that my education will be stopped and my

scouting will be stopped. My Father is not capable to continue my other three sisters study because

in this Sidr (cyclone) our only earning doing rice shop totally destroyed. For that we are in very

much danger. If you want to help me I will be very grateful to you and thus be able to continue my

study and scouting. At last I tell you that if I stop my education and scouting I wish that you would

not stop scouting. I think scouting is a great profession and by this we can help all people. Bob

visited all my condition. I think he is very affectionate to me. Be happy with a good health and

mind.

     Be our motto, One Promise, One World.

     Before I left Rayenda I stopped by Rakib's home to say goodbye. It was very emotional. As I was

departing Rakib said "One promise one world, God be with you" I said to Rakib, a Muslim, "the

God you worship and the God I worship are a bit different" Without skipping a beat Rakib said " We

are all going to die someday, God knows who the good people are.

     I call Rakib every Sunday to see how he is doing. He took his final exams for his first year of college

on March, 15. He did very well and informed me he had a 4.94 GPA. Rakib’s family does not have

the money to help him with his education goals. He owed a balance of about $550 for payment on his

first year of college, which he needed before he could take his final exam. He also needed $80 for a

Scout Jamboree activity. I was able to raise that money and sent it to him as a gift from Boy

Scouts. He is very grateful for the money we sent. Rakib also has three tutors which charge a very

small fee which his family is able to pay or barter for.

     During his two week semester break before starting his second year of college he attended a National

Jamboree where he learned advanced Scout skills with Scouts from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and

Thailand. He traveled on a bus for 17 hours to participate in a Scout Jamboree where he will have the

opportunity to earn his 3rd stage of a five stage process to earn his Bangladesh Presidential Scout

Award. Rakib also told me that he told many Scouts at the 2008 Jamboree, his class mates and

principal about his compassionate new Scout friends is the USA.

     Rakib is now in dire need of $1400 for payment of his second year of College. He needs all of the

money before he can start school. Rakib has asked for help from BSA Scout families. He told me that

if we can help him he will be able to help many people. I’m asking Scouts for donations for

Rakib. Checks can be made payable to BSA Troop 1776, note that they are for Rakib Islam's

education fund. It would be a great international service project to adopt Rakib and help him pay for

medical school over the next 6 years. Rakib also informed me that one of his years of medical school

would take place in the US. The Patriots Path Council Scouts could raise funds for this third world

Boy Scout half way around the world and track his progress toward his goal of becoming a doctor.

E. Robert Paley, ASM Venture

BSA Troop 1776

Neshanic, NJ

Rakib Updates:

Photos of Rakib