Steps: Developing Organization
While stepping forward towards development, BITA is undergoing following stages,
Stage 1:
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). BCCT is located 20 km away from Chittagong city and 1.25 km south from Nayarhat Bazar of Patiya Upazilla at Meheranti village of Kusumpura union. The centre has developed keeping eco friendly environment in consideration; green paddy land and rural households covered by surrounding areas of the centre.
BCCT is planned to be developed as a learning space for different stakeholder groups. Courses dealing with theatre arts, community theatre, people’s aesthetics and development theatre will be offered to different organizations. Through this centre, the contemporary development and rights issues will also be discussed and analyzed through different short/ certificate courses and research and studies. BITA also plans to develop Specialized Resource Centre including human resources and facilities at BCDC so that the process and pedagogical experience shall be accessible to its constituents.
The centre is developed with training facilities for 30 people including residential facilities, training materials and logistics support. BITA offers its facilities to different organization. BITA wishes to extend its facilities by developing new infrastructure for more training and logistics facilities for both internal and external uses. It’s also to be noted that a number of dignitaries also visited the centre and expressed their feeling about the importance of such initiatives.
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 for inspired learners. In many cases intercultural exchanges are coming up. By the end of this phase, BITA wishes to expend its wing to few countries to disseminate its work by demonstrating its culture based approach. Now BITA team is more expert to regenerate its uniform tools like puppet, DHOL playing, traditional ethnic music for wider audiences.
Moreover, BITA is also equally expanding its work on rights promotion to various stakeholders. Programs like social audit for governance monitoring, BCC campaign on health and hygiene issues, and addressing non state actors from grass roots to policy level. Another unique intervention during this phase is to include the leg behind population of the society: the extreme poor older people. BITA tries to build up intergenerational linkages between older people and youth so that the knowledge, skill and tradition that they have can be transmitted to the youth. And respect and dignity of older people can be retained.
Stage 7:
Institutionalization of BITA (2016- 2021); phase 3
In order to contribute in equitable and sustainable development, BITA has amplified programmatic innovations focusing SDGs with multi-stakeholders. The programmatic innovations include: i. Peace building initiatives of youth through cultural initiatives for countering and preventing violent extremism is very linked to goal 16. 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, vii. Community Information and Accountability Services. Furthermore, BITA involved consistently into strong networking and alliance. Hence BITA’s development efforts are much linked to catalyze in achieving SDGs: 1,3,4,5,8,11 and 16. The organization seeks the country transforming into Developing Country as depicted in vision 2021 and strive in fulfillment of the vision at Golden Jubilee of our independence