February 23, 2016 – A team consisting of four Global Change Makers Program (GCMP) members from Japan, including three students, led by GCMP President Mr. Daichi Usui has recently visited Bangladesh under the International Students’ Research Program (ISRP) conducted by Global Communication Center (GCC) of Grameen Communications (GC). The program was held through February 18 – 23, 2016.

This time GCMP team also visited Ekhlaspur, Chandpur to conduct the research activities on GramClean project. Here also mention that, a two-month long pilot program of GramClean project is going on in Ekhlaspur from February 01, 2016. GCC has arranged GramClean project with the collaboration of GCMP of Japan. The pilot program is included collection and management of different kinds of garbage from households, schools and markets in Ekhlaspur Ward No.2.

On the first day, an Orientation Ceremony was held at Gramen Communications Conference Hall to give the participants a brief idea about the day-to-day activities of GramClean project. On the next day, the team moved to the village Ekhlaspur for field visit and to carry out their four days long filed research activities on GramClean pilot project. The team had meetings with the Union Chairman and members, village women leader, teachers of the local high school regarding the waste management system. The team also took an interview of few households, fisherman and old market committee members as a part of their research activities. The team also encouraged villagers to build up waste disposal habits among them, which is very important to develop an effective waste disposal system.

On the final day, the team has presented their research activities and findings about GramClean pilot projetc. On the presentation ceremony Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam Maruf (Consultant, GCC) and other GCC members were also present.