About us

Bangladesh Rehabilitation and Assistance Center for Addicts (BARACA) is a non-government, non-profitable voluntary development organization. It is a central project of Caritas Bangladesh. BARACA was initiated by the Holy Cross Brothers in Bangladesh on 1st July 1988 and it is the first drug treatment and rehabilitation center in Bangladesh. It provides services for treatment and rehabilitation for drug dependent persons (male & female), awareness on drug, harm & risk reduction, Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for the drug dependent persons, day-care and night shelter for the street-based children at risk.

Goals and Objectives

BARACA contributes towards the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

Goal 1: Health Education and Care (Address SDGs 2, 3 & 6)

Objectives:

  • Strengthen Prevention, Treatment and After-care Services for Drug Addiction and Sex Abuse.
  • Strengthen Primary Health Care.
  • Strengthen Pro-Life Reproductive Health Education.
  • Sensitize Community to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), HIV & AIDS and other Communicable Diseases.


Goal 2: Quality Education (Address SDG 4)

Objectives:

  • Children from deprived community have access to education.
  • Promote moral and ethical education.

Goal 3: Poverty Reduction (Address SDG 1)

Objectives:

  • Employment creation.
  • Improve socio-economic condition and dignity of life.
PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT
  • Drug dependent persons
  • Children
  • Youth and Adolescent
  • Women
  • Elderly
  • Government of Bangladesh
  • Donors from home and abroad
  • Media
  • Like-minded organizations, Forum and networks both national and international.

Basic principles of BARACA

  • An addict is sick, he is not bad or mad.
  • All drug users deserve a chance to have a life with human dignity.
  • Our genuine love and appropriate care can give the drug user brothers and sisters a life full of hope and dignity.
  • Hate sin, not the sinner; they too are victims of society! They deserve a second chance.

BARACA in Action

Major interventions under each goal are described below:

Goal 1: Health Education and Care (Address SDGs 2, 3 & 6)

Improve health education and care.

Interventions:

BARACA established two Treatment & Rehabilitation Centers for men and women, four Drop in Centers (DICs) for men, women, children (boys & girls) and two Night shelters for children (boys & girls) to perform the following:

Primary health care service; Prevention, treatment and after-care services for drug addicts and sex abusers; Harm reduction; Health and nutrition; Adolescent health care; and Pro-life reproductive health education.

  1. Treatments and Rehabilitation (Male & Female)
  2. Harm Reduction (DIC’s & Night shelter)
  3. Awareness Program
  4. Follow-up
  5. VCT (Voluntary Counseling & Testing)
  6. Networking among the drug treatment & rehabilitation centers

Outcomes

  • Increased access to primary health care services and measures are in practice.
  • Communities are sensitized to STI, HIV and AIDS and improving quality of life.
  • Reduced harms and risks of drug users and sex workers.


Goal 2: Quality Education (Address SDG 4)

Promote education rights and Inclusive Quality Education.

Interventions:

Arrange primary education to the street children; Provide life skill education to the children and clients; Provide moral and ethical education to the clients.

Outcomes

  • Children primary education in Drop in Centers (DICs) are functional.
  • Street children have access to nearby primary schools.
  • Staff, clients (drug users) and children developed their moral values.
  • Communities are responsive towards street children and drug users.


Goal 3: Poverty Reduction (Address SDG 1)

Interventions:

Provide vocational training to the clients; provide trade training to the parents of street children; Provide capital for small trades.

Outcomes

  • Clients have access to job oriented skill training.
  • Parents run small trades;
  • Facilitate job opportunities to the clients and children at the age of 18.

BARACA program’s Mission:
–BARACA program exists to help drug users irrespective of cast, creed, religion and economic situations.
–Provides services and VCT non-judgmentally to marginally and neglected male and female who are living on   the streets to reduce personal and social risk.
–To conduct awareness programs on Drugs, HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis B & C.