Letter from the President of WEB,
Julia Pérez-Cerezo
In February 2022, I participated in a missionary exploratory trip to Bangladesh. I am working with a Xaverian missionary and another person who is trying to establish a group of volunteers to go on missionary-related assignments abroad. The Xaverian missionary was Father Benjamin, who, at that time, had already lived for over 24 years in Bangladesh. The objective was to identify opportunities for these volunteers (including myself) to contribute to missionary cooperation activities in that country.
I have traveled extensively for both business and personal reasons. During those trips, I had the opportunity to observe firsthand the challenges faced by individuals in underserved communities, particularly girls and women who were confronted with significant disadvantages. However, I have only observed them from a distance or briefly interacted with them.
During my trip to Bangladesh, however, the experience was quite distinct. At that time, I found myself in a state of economic disadvantage, surrounded by young women from disadvantaged backgrounds who were unable to fund their education. It was a common practice for these families to arrange marriages for their daughters at a young age. It was evident that some girls in the street (sometimes under the age of 10) were already engaged in prostitution, and that young girls were often married to significantly older men (at least 10 years older). It was evident that many of these girls’ families were characterized by a lack of structure, often due to the death of a parent or the parent’s decision to leave the family to pursue a new relationship, often leaving the children financially disadvantaged.
This experience was so impactful that it led to a significant personal transformation. Upon returning to Europe, I felt a distinct change in my own identity. Upon returning home, I felt compelled to take action to assist the girls in Bangladesh in achieving educational opportunities and becoming self-sufficient, regardless of the challenges they may face in the future.
In June 2022, I initiated a crowdfunding campaign with the objective of supporting the education of girls residing in a street children’s hostel in Dhaka. This initiative received partial support from the Xaverian Missionaries. Subsequently, several girls from impoverished rural families in the Noluakuri area were presented to me, and I initiated a one-to-one sponsorship program (one girl – one sponsor), with sponsors based in both Germany and Spain.
As the number of girls increased, it became apparent that the establishment of a formal legal structure was necessary to channel financial assistance and provide more comprehensive, professional support to ensure the continuation of their academic studies. The Women’s Empowerment in Bangladesh Association (WEB) was established and officially registered in December 2023.
Since then, we have steadily increased the number of participants and sponsors, with a balanced presence in both Germany and Spain. We are supporting girls of different ages: some are very young, and about 20% of them are getting a university degree or diploma in Dhaka. However, most of them are in the critical years in which girls abandon their academic education in Bangladesh (from class 8 to class 12).
The challenge is significant. The number of girls requesting our support is increasing, and we are committed to providing them with comprehensive advising beyond financial assistance. With the on-site support of the Xaverian Fathers, Benjamin and Lupi, and with the help of God, we will be able to make a lasting change in the lives of our sponsored girls. We will provide them with the tools they need to successfully face all future challenges.
Everything is ultimately dependent on divine intervention. He is the one who oversees all operations. We are merely the instruments through which He is bringing this vision to life.
“The fruit of silence is prayer.
The fruit of prayer is faith.
The fruit of faith is love.
The fruit of love is service.
The fruit of service is peace..”Saint Theresa of Calcutta
Julia Pérez-Cerezo
The President of WEB’s organization