Ten kiwis from the Bay of Plenty travelled to Bangladesh to visit a number of projects supported and funded by International Needs New Zealand.

John Elen the operations manager for International Needs Humanitarian Trust, a Christian aid organisation, along with his wife Jocelyn, led the team.

The trust began 40-years ago by New Zealander Ray Harrison and is now in more than 30 countries around the world.

INHT works in under developed countries by empowering local leaders to bring lasting change to their community. The four main areas of work are sponsoring children, challenging injustice, meeting urgent needs and transforming communities.

The visit left a lasting impression on the team and they were pleasantly surprised about the lifelong, positive changes this support brought to many.

In his own words, John shares the experience with SunLive.

'We're not in Kansas now Toto,” this line from the Wizard of Oz, is when Dorothy and her dog Toto find themselves in a strange and enchanting new land.

I have only been to Asia (Manilla, the Philippines) once before and found it was very Westernised.

We landed at Dhaka at 1am and we were met head on with thousands of Muslim pilgrims returning home from their recent pilgrimage to Mecca.

This, combined with the heat, chaos, noise, music and car horns, made me quickly realise I was somewhere totally different from New Zealand.

We were part of a group that explored a number of International Needs funded projects. Our programme was full, as our hosts (International Needs Bangladesh) wanted us to see and experience as much as possible during our time there.

We travelled, with armed escorts, in the oppressive Bangladesh heat by train, ferry, a three-wheeled bike and, fortunately, by air-conditioned mini-van sometimes.

We visited children's villages, a building project, a village reeling from recent flooding, health projects aimed specifically at women and children and a slum school that endeavours to educate children as young as six who spend seven hours a day, seven days a week in a welding shop or brick-making factory.

The people of Bangladesh were amazing and everyone we spent time with was gracious, enthusiastic, hospitable, open and welcoming.

At the slum school, one of our party spent time with a six-year-old boy who worked in a welding shop. He was so happy to have the opportunity to go to school for just three hours a day. His story broke the hearts of our team as we realised that he was one of thousands in which this was their world.

When we arrived at Bethany Children's Village in the Barisal area, we were given the most amazing welcome. The children were so pleased to see us and so appreciative of the help they are given.

Slum school in Barisal.

The children we met have absolutely nothing, everything they own fits into a small wooden box, but they are so grateful. Their thankfulness humbled us and there wasn't a dry eye in our group. It is so sad to think what would happen to these vulnerable and innocent children if they didn't have the support of International Needs supporters in New Zealand.

Visiting Bangladesh gave me an appreciation of just how hard it is to do life in that country.

The masses of people, the government bureaucracy, the heat and the natural disasters would certainly make the faint hearted give up. The people we visited, nevertheless, achieved an incredible amount with very little resources at their disposal.

The teachers, community workers and office staff who serve the children and families of Bangladesh are amazing. All had an enormous degree of passion, commitment, humility and energy.

The workers are all very qualified and committed to the community of people they are responsible for.

I was impressed with their lines of accountability and the quality of the projects.

This instilled in us all a very real confidence that this team would meet its aims and aspirations and that the funds and resources that New Zealanders have donated would bring about lasting and positive change in the lives of many of them.

Luke Edwards, from Pongakawa, meets six-year-old Hasim.

In the north of Bangladesh International Needs is in the process of funding a building project that will house and educate up to 400 children whose families are trapped in the cycle of generational poverty.

At 2pm on March 25 at The Orchard Church in Te Puke there is a fundraising event run by The Charitable Stage Company. This stage production is written, produced and performed all by young people.

My trip to Bangladesh has left a lasting impression; it is a beautiful, chaotic and noisy country. The International Needs Bangladesh team are bringing about transformation and change in people's lives and that is exciting. Without a doubt the people of Bangladesh stole my heart.