The KOTHOWAIN organization (Vulnerable People’s Development Organization) was established in 2003 by social development activists in response to the issues of extreme poverty, low literacy rate, social and political conflict, eroding cultural identity, environment, and high incidence of human rights violations among the indigenous peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.

KOTHOWAIN, a Tripura word meaning ‘Hope for Survival’ was officially registered as a non-government and non-political voluntary development organization in the Social Service Department of Bangladesh Government in 2007.

The organization aims to develop the socio-economic conditions of the most vulnerable and underprivileged people in the Hill Tracts. Through the years, KOTHOWAIN has strived to build the capacities of the communities to manage and implement projects in a sustainable manner, have a voice in decision making, and dignity as a people. This has been achieved in partnership with local, national, and international agencies as well as government institutions.

KOTHOWAIN prioritized for focusing on the following areas:
Human Rights and Indigenous Rights
Livelihood,
Climate Change
Primary Education and Higher Education
Health and Sanitation,
Adolescent and Youth Development, empowerment and Employment
Advocacy, Linkage and Networking

KOTHOWAIN Vision, Mission & Core Values
Vision: Socio economic development, promotion and empowerment among marginalized people in Bangladesh
Mission: “To bring sustainable positive change by reducing poverty among the marginalized people, especially women and children, through participatory process by undertaking needs- and rights-based development programs in the Chittagong Hill Tracts”

Objectives of KOTHOWAIN:
- To execute Children, youth and women’s development activities,.
- To intervene the Family Planning and Social Education activities,
- To implement the rural and urban socio-economic development,
- To create the self-employment opportunity for women and marginalized groups,
- To implement the pure drinking water supply activities
- To implement the malaria project and other chronic diseases prevention,
- To support the destitute, disabled, orphans and poor students,
- To empower, capacitate and develop the women,
- To support the victimised people from man made and natural disasters,
- To spread awareness about substance abuse,
- To aware the mass people on dowry,
- To assist poor families for necessary treatment for illnesses,
- To implement programs for disabled welfare and development.

GABRIEL TRIPURA
Executive Director
KOTHOWAIN (Vulnerable Peoples Development Organization)
Bandarban Hill Tract, BANGLADESH
Tel: 0088-0361-62783
cel: 0088-01556561400, 0088-01846506927
Email: gabriel.tripura@gmail.com
executivedirector@kothowain.org
info@kothowain.org
kothowainbd@gmail.com
web: kothowain.org
skype: gabriel.tripura
Membership/Partner:
1.   Bangladesh National Youth Council, Dhaka
2.   Chittagong Hill Tracts Women Foundation Network
3.   Girls Not  Brides (ending early child marriage), UK
4.   Executive Member, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Bandarban Unit
5.   YSA-USA
6.   Bangladesh Youth Network (BYN)’-Jaago Foundation and UNDP
7.   Servas International
8.   The World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA), New Zealand
9.   End Violence against Children-New York
10. The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) -CANADA
11.   Women Thrive Alliance - Washington, D.C
12.   CIVICUS
13.   United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
14.   Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN)
15.   Global Legal Empowerment Network (Namati)- USA
16.   Mountain Partnership-Italy
17.   Netzkraft Movement
18.   The Adaptation Fund NGO Network-Germany
19. NAHAB (National Alliance of Humanitarian Actors, Bangladesh)
20.   Dianova International -Switzerland
21. GNDR
22. Together to end FGM
23. Advisory Member, Initiative for Equality-USA
24. Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN)-Switzerland
25. Regeneration International Network
26. International Peace Bureau-Germany
27. Climate Action Network-South Asia
28. Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) -Switzerland
29. UNDRR Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism30. Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People
31. International Association of Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection (PHAP) - Geneva, Switzerland32. GenderCC – Women for Climate Justice is a global network of organisations-Germany33. Joint Organizing Secretary, Bangladesh Tripura Kallyan Sangsad (Central Committee)
BANGLADESH