I have now been in Bangladesh for six months delivering a VSO project in some of Bangladesh’s most disadvantaged communities. The project aims to empower women and youth through job creation and is supporting the development of two handicrafts startups. The project is now in its second trimester and handicraft training has commenced. 14 women are being trained in the production of jute bags, cushions and lampshades, the three products deemed most likely to be profitable by the project’s market survey.
The project is working in two neighboring villages. Here the average household income is below the official national minimum wage. When household income is stretched to provide for the average 5 heads per household, the per capita income comes to less than half of the common international poverty line of $1 per day.
The project is working in two neighboring villages. Here the average household income is below the official national minimum wage. When household income is stretched to provide for the average 5 heads per household, the per capita income comes to less than half of the common international poverty line of $1 per day.
| Khordomuradpur and Shodorpur villages · Only 28% of women are currently involved in income generation; · 18% of the villagers have awareness of health issues; · 98% of the villagers suffer from poor sanitary conditions; · 98% are facing water borne diseases; · The main source of income is manual day labor. |
The project’s two villages are located in a notably conservative part of Bangladesh. Here, child marriage is not uncommon and girls in the community have been known to marry as young as 12. Many of these child brides end up leaving their education in order to take up domestic duties. This can be a frightening experience. Away from the reassurance of their natal homes, young girls may lack the confidence and authority to be able to assert themselves in their new environment.
This project aspires to empower women and youth in these two villages by offering them the opportunity to gain more financial independence through the development of its two female friendly businesses. On top of the obvious monetary rewards of work, employment has other benefits in that it can be a place to learn new skills, build confidence, as well be an opportunity to expand one’s social network and build social capital.
While female employment levels are low in this part of Bangladesh, the handicrafts sector has traditionally been an acceptable sector for women to engage in. The chance to opt for home based production also allows women the flexibility to be able to juggle domestic responsibilities with employment. Moreover, the women will not only gain employable skills through project provided training, I hope some of them will also gain a new found sense of confidence as first time breadwinners.
This project aspires to empower women and youth in these two villages by offering them the opportunity to gain more financial independence through the development of its two female friendly businesses. On top of the obvious monetary rewards of work, employment has other benefits in that it can be a place to learn new skills, build confidence, as well be an opportunity to expand one’s social network and build social capital.
While female employment levels are low in this part of Bangladesh, the handicrafts sector has traditionally been an acceptable sector for women to engage in. The chance to opt for home based production also allows women the flexibility to be able to juggle domestic responsibilities with employment. Moreover, the women will not only gain employable skills through project provided training, I hope some of them will also gain a new found sense of confidence as first time breadwinners.
Fatema is one of the project’s 14 production workers. She is currently enrolled in the project’s intensive training course to learn how to produce cushion covers and lampshades. For 3 months of every year money is tight in her family. Like many of the other production women, she is a young mother and hopes that her new job will allow her to help support her family financially. She also hopes that her new job will bring her higher standing in her community. Fatema hopes that through this project she will be able to help her country’s development by making the project successful through her hard work. I am encouraged by the enthusiasm with which Fatima has taken to training. I am convinced that her intelligence and hard work will a valuable asset in solidifying the success of this project. |
Seeing the progress of our 14 production workers has brought me and other members of the team immense job satisfaction. It is inspiring to see the support the women are giving one other in their learning journeys. Whenever I visit the training sites I see the women assisting each other to set the sewing machines or to master a particularly tricky new skill.
The female production workers are being trained by three board level members of Rangpur Disctrict’s Women’s Chamber of Commerce. These women are successful local entrepreneurs in their own right and they have been able to share their experiences as pioneering female business leaders with the project’s women. Under the trainers’ expert tutelage, Fatema and her colleagues have already made amazing progress in their first five days of training.
The female production workers are being trained by three board level members of Rangpur Disctrict’s Women’s Chamber of Commerce. These women are successful local entrepreneurs in their own right and they have been able to share their experiences as pioneering female business leaders with the project’s women. Under the trainers’ expert tutelage, Fatema and her colleagues have already made amazing progress in their first five days of training.
In the first day of training the women made simple purses. Above, Shajeda shows off her first finished product at the end of the first day of training. After just 4 days of training, the women are now making jute grocery bags with side pocket detailing and more sophisticated finishing.
The team will shortly be departing the community. It is sad to leave such an exciting project just as we see our beneficiaries start to flourish. However, I leave confident that we have firmly started the ball rolling on a project that will have a perceptible and positive impact on this community.
The team will shortly be departing the community. It is sad to leave such an exciting project just as we see our beneficiaries start to flourish. However, I leave confident that we have firmly started the ball rolling on a project that will have a perceptible and positive impact on this community.