In April of 2013, a building called Rana Plaza in Savar, Bangladesh, collapsed. It lead to the deaths of more than a thousand people, and more than 2500 were injured. The reason for the collapse was the negligence of the owner of the building, who also owned the garments factory housed in it. Proper procedures had not been followed for the construction of the building, and when cracks appeared, the owner and top-level management refused to vacate the building.
You can read more about the collapse here: Savar building collapse Wikipedia page
Many of the 2500+ people who were injured were maimed or otherwise disabled for life. It’s easy to dismiss 2500 as just a number, but these are people just like you and me.
Imagine that you’re writing a letter to one of the injured victims of the Savar tragedy. (You can decide for yourself what the victim’s name is and what injuries he or she has suffered.) What will you write? Email your essay to savarkids@gmail.com.
–Example Response–
Dear Rehan,
They say that time heals all, but no amount of time can give you your leg back, which you lost in the Savar building collapse last April. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be for you to not be able to walk anymore. I have an uncle who cannot walk and who needs to move around in a wheelchair. Previously, my aunt always needed to help him move by pushing his wheelchair. But recently, he got an electric wheelchair, and now he can move around with the press of a button! Your wife is probably not around very often to help you move because she has a job and she has to work hard to feed the family now that you can’t work. As for an electric wheelchair it will probably be very difficult for you to get one because they are very expensive and I don’t think they’re available in Bangladesh. But don’t worry Rehan, I have decided that I will buy you an electric wheelchair! I have already started saving up money in my piggy bank. I don’t know how long it will take to save up enough money but I promise I will not give up and keep on saving! When I have enough money I will buy the wheelchair and bring it to you in Bangladesh myself. Won’t it be wonderful when you’re able to move freely again? I’m very excited, Rehan, and I hope you are too.
With warm regards,
Jasmine, New York