Nusrat (10 years), a little fellow of the slum, jumped over the dirty canal while holding books. Her friend is in the queue to cross the canal. Risking their own lives to cross the canal to get back to school has become their regular routine.

A large proportion of migrants from villages end up in urban slums. Dhaka city has more than 5,000 slums inhabited by an estimated four million people. For children living in slum areas, life is difficult and often dangerous, with high rates of malnourishment, school dropout, child marriage, child labour, and abuse. Water and air pollution from poor waste and traffic management pose serious health risks. Beyond the risks of violence, assault, and harassment, women and girls often face discrimination in daily urban life.