The Participatory Development Action Program (PDAP) was launched on 6 March 1994. PDAP works with people whose lives are dominated by extreme poverty, illiteracy, disease and other environmental problems. With multifaceted development interventions, PDAP strives to bring about positive change in the quality of life for these people, especially women, adolescents and children. PDAP is committed to making its programs socially, financially and environmentally sustainable using new methods and technologies. PDAP is actively involved in promoting human rights, dignity and gender equity.

The slum dwellers living in Bhola Bastee in Mirpur, Dhaka (Bangladesh) come from different areas of the Barishal district. Due to river erosion they have lost their property, resources and shelter and are very poor. Most of them are Richshaw pullers, vegetable and fish sellers, garment workers or home workers.  

The Participatory Development Action Program has been engaged in the following activities:

• Identification of challenges in the area through mapping and household survey;       
• Training in leadership development skills;
• Awareness raising activities on empowerment issues;
• Teaching  the Local to Local methodolog;
• Use of the Local to Local methodology within the community and at a national level workshop.

The organized groups received leadership training as well as disaster risk reduction training from the Participatory Development Action Program. PDAP also encouraged them to contact NGOs directly to address their problems. The groups' leaders contacted World Vision, DSK and the Association for Realisation of Basic Needs (ARBAN).

As a result, the NGO DSK provided some sanitation facilities.

Road repair requires permission from the local Member of Parliament, a group of women living in the slum area applied for permission for the work to be done by World Vision. World vision have organised the repair of the road by providing slabs of concrete to cover the open drains. 

Other NGOs have shared their experience with the Participatory Action Development Program.

Ms. Naseem Sheikh, member of the Senior Management Team of SSP India ("Empowering women as leaders and entrepreneurs"), came to the Participatory Development Action Program to share her experience with the program leaders. She said that in their area, Maharastra, they do everything through the community group members. She gave a power point presentation, explaining about the Community Practitioners Platform for resilience ("an organizing and networking mechanism connecting grassroots community based groups working to reduce their vulnerability to disaster and climate risks in rural and urban areas") and how they improved their community through this platform and are now self-sustainable. 

- Community Resilience through Women Leadership - A Case study on Bhola slum of Mirpur, Participatory Development Action Program