About Us

PROGRESSIVE is a women-led, non-profit, non-political, and local non-governmental development organization with an intention of brining women’s leadership into action. It was established in 1997 by a group of committed indigenous women leaders and dedicated development workers based in Rangamati. The organization aims to implement voluntary services and social welfare initiatives for disadvantaged and underserved indigenous communities, with a special focus on improving the socio-economic status of indigenous women in the Chittagong Hill Tracts through need-based development programs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION

The Founder

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Sucharita Chakma

Since its inception, PROGRESSIVE has been involved in various initiatives such as non-formal education, life skills capacity building, health, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), agriculture, human rights, and community skill development programs for different groups. The organization has also undertaken actions in natural resource management, disaster risk reduction, and community resilience programs that address climate change issues in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

PROGRESSIVE initially focused on health programs in Rangamati Sadar Upazila and later expanded its work throughout the entire Chittagong Hill Tracts. Their development interventions include Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE), nursery programs, cage aquaculture, health, water and sanitation projects, solar lamp projects, education initiatives with Green Hill, and weaving and sewing training. The organization emphasizes grassroots participation to ensure sustainability and empower women, aiming to alleviate poverty among exploited and landless people through social mobilization against injustice.

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Additionally, PROGRESSIVE has successfully completed various projects such as the Micro Agri Business and Social Mobilization project funded by the Asian Development Bank, women farmers’ empowerment projects in agriculture, forest conservation initiatives through FIMI, life skills and vocational training for specialized groups through the ILO, and enforcement of traditional (customary) laws, particularly property rights for indigenous women, funded by Sweden through BNPS. The organization also successfully executed the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) project in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, funded by the European Commission through SIMAVI.

Overall, PROGRESSIVE continues to improve the livelihoods of underprivileged in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by implementing programs in health, natural resource management, women’s leadership development, human rights, good governance, livelihood improvement, youth empowerment, social business, technology skills transformation, and emergency response, with due focus of Indigenous Communities.

Vision

To create an inclusive and just society where women, adolescents, and children, regardless of their religion, caste, or gender, live with dignity, equality, and safety. We envision a Chittagong Hill Tracts, where every individual enjoys equal rights, opportunities, and the freedom to thrive in a supportive and respectful environment.

Mission

Building a secure society by involving all marginalized communities, especially women, adolescents and children in the development process, supporting them to achieve basic rights by developing their education and skills, and creating opportunities for women’s participation and leadership in socio-economic development.

Goal

To improve the natural environment, take initiative in establishing justice in the society for the protection of human rights, to bring welfare to the disadvantaged marginalized people especially women and children by reducing poverty in the society through development activities.

Our MOTTO:

Stop denying equal rights because of gender, race or religion. Educate and empower women to bring women’s leadership into action.