By Biswajit Mondal, Satkhira
Joynab Begum- a 37 years old women along with her 3 daughters and husband Mr. Abu Musa who is now an auto rickshaw diver, moved ten years ago from Kakikapur village of Kaliganj upazila to village Joynagar under Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district as they were struggling to put food on the table. They had to sell a piece of inherited land and all other belongings for maintenance and displacement cost. They found a rented land in newly moved area and built a thatch house to get shelter.
Joynab was married when she just turned on 15, although her parents had wanted to educate their daughter, but they were unable to, due to their financial situation. When she got married, she was happy but her happiness did not last for long as her husband become sick and gives up his physically demanding occupation. He was the only earning member of his family and thus, with his unemployment, it became hard to make the ends meet.
Joynab has been associated with BARCIK supported by Diakonia (Sweden) and Misereor (Germany) since 2017. In a group meeting when she shared her dismal financial condition with other women of the group, they are also keen to do something for livelihood improvement which they proposed to BARCIK. With the assistance of the capacity building, BARCIK arranged a three month duration training course on tailoring for 25 women at one of their members’ house. After getting training, 22 women purchased sewing machine and making dress in their own house. Now they are earning money from the activity.
From her perseverance and effort Joynab Begum made something difference among them. Before receiving the training she was passing her days in miserable condition. Since becoming involved with tailoring, Jaynab has a regular income and her family no longer struggles to find food. She is now an active member of various organisations in her community. Jaynab’s business became very popular in her village and her customer base continued to grow. Soon, other unemployed women who were struggling to feed their families came to her for help and advice. As present, her monthly income is approximately TK 1500-2000 from tailoring. Now she can assist her family from her own income. There is no problem for schooling of her daughters. Jaynab did not limit her works to tailoring; she also raises animals for meat and dairy and grows vegetables in her court yard. She now owns seven chickens, eight ducks from those she also earn around TK. 1000 each month. “Now I do not pass the night without food and my other family members can eat full meals at night…nights without foods are gone from our lives, we are happy.” Joynab said. She hopes that in near future she will purchase cloths from the market make dress and sale it. By the way her income will be increased. She added that her dignity has increased within the family as well as in the society. Her successes are praised by the society and her groups as well.
Re-written by ABM Touhidul Alam
