Program Spotlight: Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts

By: Sisir Dutta

Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA), a non-government organization, has been administering development initiatives focusing on human rights, cultural upliftment and poverty alleviation since 1994. Then, a group of intellectuals, grassroots artists, and development activists founded BITA on the belief that culture can be an instrumental approach for development to establish a sustainable mechanism towards poverty reduction. Based on this believe, BITA is participating in national development by promoting agendas on issues of social, cultural, environmental rights and governance and creating positive changes in the values of the people through innovative approaches, which has a strong local context and formed by local visions. 

BITA uses a rights-based approach of development intervention. BITA has sequentially developed an empowerment process which starts its journey from building relationships with communities through communication, support them with raising awareness of social issues, facilitating the transformation of trust into internalization capacity to visualize self-development, and building confidence to become actors from observer. This confidence also helps the community to make meaningful decisions for their wellbeing, as a result of the community development process. The process brings recognition for them as change makers for the society, too.

BITA’s rights-based approach in development is recognized by diversified donor communities and extended cooperation as projects are funded to explore innovation in regard to human rights promotion and poverty alleviation efforts.

Below is an overview of the organization’s structure and process.

Mission

BITA’s mission is to be a partner of the poor and disadvantaged people in their culture-based approach of demanding their rights particularly human rights for poverty alleviation.

Vision 

BITA’s vision is a society where respect and practice of rights by all is an integral part of life.

Arena of  Interventions

  • Education covering hard-to-reach children and people

  • Rohingya Response  on child protection and communication for change 

  • Cultural Campaign with active participation of people on rights and  governance issues  

  • Art Education through TIE, Puppet, etc.  

  • Youth Intervention to promote leadership   

  • Extremism countering & preventing for  peace-building 

  • Community Engagement  for awareness and sensitization    

  • Pre-Vocational Training for skills development and job placement 

 

Steps in Developing Organization

While stepping forward towards development, BITA is undergoing following stages: 

Stage1: Ground Work and Formation Period (1993-1994), when BITA conceptually developed and identified cultural diversity of this region which can be effectively used to address social issues at grass root community.

Stage 2: Experimental and Learning Period (1995) when primary stakeholders and prime issues were soughed out and need based programs were also designed.

Stage 3: Organizational Development Period (1996-1999), during this phase BITA developed policies and procedures, developed network with like-minded institutes and started developing grass root training center.

Stage 4: Program Development Period (2000-2005), in this period BITA developed its core programs and successfully established that cultural approach is a strong tool of social mobilization to reaching the target groups with specific messages.    

Stage 5:  Institutionalization of BITA (2006- 2010); phase 1 

To institutionalize the alternative approach in development BITA has developed BITA Culture & Communication Trust (BCCT), located 20 km away from Chittagong  city. The centre has developed keeping eco friendly environment in consideration; green paddy land and rural households covered by surrounding areas. BCCT is planned to be developed as a learning space for different stakeholders. 

Stage 6: Institutionalization of BITA (2011- 2015); phase 2

Centering BCCT, based on the thematic ground BITA is now working to promote its branding Theatre for Development, Campaign Theatre and Theatre in Education etc globally. BITA now brings experts of music, theatre and arts in this centre and generate empirical learning sharing space. By the end of this phase, BITA wishes to expand its wing to few countries to disseminate its work by demonstrating its culture based approach. Moreover, BITA is also equally expanding its work on rights promotion interventions along with inclusion of  the extreme poor older people.  

Stage 7: Institutionalization of BITA (2016- 2021); phase 3

Programmatic innovations: i. Peace building initiatives of youth through cultural initiatives for countering and preventing violent extremism, ii. Reaching-Out-Of-School Children of urban slum in Chittagong City Corporation, iii. Pre-Vocational Skills Training Program in CHT and plain land especially at rural settings, iv. Campaigning against Trafficking through Theatre –In- Education, v. Social Drama with Rohingya adolescents for child protection, vi. Intangible Cultural Heritage. Furthermore, BITA involved into strong networking and alliances. BITA believes to contribute in achieving SDGs: 1,4, 5, 8, 11 and 16 through these interventions. The organization seeks the country as depicted in vision 2021.