Dhaka: The Sreepur Children’s Village, one of the charities of Bangladesh, proves how addressing child poverty requires a multi-stage approach, according to the prestigious Forbes magazine.

“It’s not just about food and shelter; it’s about empowering children to become adults who pursue their own better destinies,” the Forbes added in its article titled “Bangladesh Charity Provides Template On How To Combat Child Poverty”.

Still, while Sreepur does great work, it recognizes that much more to be done. For one, the village has limited space in its refuge facility, yet Bangladesh has a massive population of homeless children in need, the article also stated.

All too often, these children are left to scour dangerous streets and railway tracks in a fight to survive. They are at the mercy of criminal gangs, starvation and abuse. They are also vulnerable to serious injury.

And that matters especially in Bangladesh, because poor children are often refused medical treatment. Many hospitals will simply turn children away and leave them to die or suffer serious complications from otherwise straightforward medical concerns. I have seen this tragedy firsthand.

Nevertheless, the program isn’t just about action. It’s about research for the future. The team involved will also record data on each incident. The idea is that by compiling a map and reports on where injuries have occurred and where and how treatment has been delivered, Sreepur will guide future support efforts, the global magazine added.

In basic terms, if Sreepur and other charities — and presumably the Bangladeshi government — know where most injuries are occurring, they’ll be able to target resources more effectively later.

Sreepur Children’s Village will also focus on leveraging public attention to the suffering of young children. In doing so, the organization hopes to lay a longer-term foundation for child-related anti-poverty efforts by raising money and providing more stable means to those in need. SCV knows that the task at hand is too great for one organization. To truly make a difference, it must build a coalition.

Whatever the group does, however, many Bangladeshi children will continue to live and suffer without help. But through innovation and commitment, Sreepur Children’s Village hopes to make things better. And in its approach — acting immediately but gathering data for the long term — the charity offers a fine example for others around the world.