Desk Report:
Living in the remote villages of Bandarban, across green hills and winding roads, is not easy for people. Due to inaccessible communication systems, limited employment and agriculture-based livelihoods, many families have to go through various crises every day. The main source of income for many families in the hilly community is jute cultivation. But it is difficult to meet the needs of the family throughout the year with this income that is dependent on nature and market conditions.
This reality has the biggest impact on the women and students of the family. Many of them do not have any separate income opportunities for themselves while meeting the expenses of food, medical treatment and education with the limited income of the family. However, many of them are interested in learning a job and dream of supporting their families with their own income.
Bashundhara Shuva Sangha stands by some of these dreamy women. The organization provided free sewing training to 40 poor women from Alikadam and Sadar upazilas of Bandarban for three months. After the training, each of them was given a sewing machine. As a result, the trained women have an opportunity to use their skills to earn money.
Sewing machines were handed over to them at a function organized recently at the Alikadam and Bandarban Sadar Upazila Hallrooms. Alikadam Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Sohel Rana, Officer-in-Charge of Bandarban Sadar Police Station Md. Shahed Parvez, Bandarban District Press Club President Aminul Haque Bachchu, Bashundhara Shuvo Sangh Director Zakaria Zaman, and representatives of local administration, media and social organizations were present at the function.
Chammum wants to be self-reliant along with studies
Chammum Mro of Maranpara in Alikadam upazila has lived her life amidst various adversities. This young woman from a large family of three brothers and eight sisters is currently a 12th grade student at Alikadam College. Her father cultivates Mro jhum. Her income is used to meet the daily needs of so many family members.
Due to her large family, Chammum has seen the reality of poverty since childhood. In addition to continuing her studies, she wanted to stand on her own feet in the future. But since her family’s financial capacity is limited, she has to rely on her family to meet her own needs.
In this situation, Chammum was looking for an opportunity to learn a job. After receiving sewing training, that opportunity arose. Not only training, she also received a sewing machine from Bashundhara Group.
According to Chammum, there are many family members. It is difficult to meet all the needs of the family with the income from her father’s jhum farming. She is happy to have the opportunity to learn sewing. Now, in addition to studying, she wants to help her family by sewing and meet her own needs.
For her, the sewing machine is not just a tool; it is an opportunity to build her own future.
Laiju’s studies did not stop despite her father’s illness
Laiju Akhter of Nayapara village in Alikadam upazila also faces the pressure of poverty and responsibility. This 12th grade student of Lama College is one of six sisters.
Laiju’s father suffered a stroke and was paralyzed about 13 years ago. Since then, the family’s financial situation has become difficult. Since her father’s regular income has stopped, the elder sisters of the family have to take care of the family.
Laiju is continuing her studies with the help of her elder sisters. However, she does not want to look to her family for all her needs. Therefore, she pays some of her own expenses by taking tuitions along with her studies.
In the meantime, Laiju got the opportunity to learn sewing. After three months of training, she also got a sewing machine. Now, she is planning to earn money by sewing along with tuitions.
Laiju thinks that the financial pressure on the family due to her father’s illness will be reduced to some extent with her own income. Her dream is to continue her studies and become self-reliant in the future.
Masingching’s dream is to stand by her family
Masingching Marma of Rening Para in Sadar Upazila of Bandarban is one of the 40 women who received a sewing machine. The father of this 10th grade student of Lotus Shishu Sadan Residential High School, Thoaichingnu Marma, works as an office worker in a primary school.
The family of two sisters has limited income to continue their education. So Masingching wanted to acquire a skill along with her studies.
After taking sewing training, she now has her own machine. She wants to use this machine to earn money in the future. Masingching dreams of supporting her education expenses as well as standing by her family.
Mesainu’s struggle in the absence of her mother
Mesainu Marma, a fourth-year student of the History Department of Bandarban Government College, also has a story of struggle in her life. Her mother died long ago. Her father, Sabai U Marma, runs the family by farming.
Mesainu’s education is continuing depending on her father’s limited income. The financial reality of the family has forced her to think about the future. Therefore, she considers the opportunity to learn a job along with her studies important for herself.
After receiving a sewing machine after three months of training, she now has the opportunity to use that skill. Mesainu wants to reduce her father’s financial pressure by earning money by sewing along with her studies.
Shyamoli’s family also awaits prosperity
Another beneficiary of this initiative is Shyamoli Tanchangya, a second-year graduate student of Bandarban Government College. Her father, Kadam Tanchangya, cannot earn much. They also have to rely on the income of her brother, who works in an NGO, to meet the family’s expenses.
Shyamoli is continuing her studies despite this reality. She intends to share the responsibilities of the family with her own income in the future.
After receiving sewing training and a machine, she believes that a path has been created to realize that dream. If she can use her skills to earn money, she will be able to contribute financially to her family – that is her expectation.
Machines with training, so job opportunities have been created
Stakeholders say that in many cases, just distributing sewing machines does not make it possible to use them in the long term. For this reason, women were given three months of training before giving them the machines. In this, they learned the basic work of sewing and also gained practical experience in using the machines.
According to the organizers, many women do not get the opportunity for self-employment due to limited income families, lack of employment, and various household responsibilities. If they are taught a practical skill as well as given the materials to use that skill, it is easier to create their own income path.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Sohel Rana said that the initiative to provide sewing training and machines to make women in marginal areas self-reliant is timely. Through this, self-employment opportunities will be created for women and they will be able to move forward economically.
Bandarban Sadar Police Station OC Md. Shahed Parvez also praised the initiative. According to him, providing free training and sewing machines to women in remote areas will help them become self-reliant.
Bandarban District Press Club President Aminul Haque Bachchu said that it is important not only to distribute machines, but also to provide three months of free training before that. In this, the beneficiaries have acquired skills in using the machines. As a result, sewing machines can be a means of long-term self-employment for them.
Bashundhara Shuva Sangh Bandarban District Branch President Ui Singh Marma said that many women in the hilly regions do not get work opportunities due to various limitations. If they can be made skilled, it is possible to bring positive changes in the family and society.
One machine, a new prospect for a family
A large part of the 40 women who received sewing machines are from small ethnic groups. Among them are school, college and university students. Some have fathers who cultivate jute, some do farming, and some have difficulty running their families due to illness or limited income.
Although each of their stories is different, their dreams are almost the same—to continue their studies, to meet some of their own needs, and to help their families when they get the chance.
Local residents also believe that sewing machines can be a tool to realize that dream. According to them, employment opportunities for women in the hilly areas are still limited. If such initiatives are carried out consistently, not only will the financial situation of a few families change, but the mentality of self-reliance among women will also be strengthened.
Chammum, Laiju, Masingching, Mesainu, or Shyamoli—everyone now has a sewing machine in their hands. For them, it is not just a gift. For some, it is a means to continue their studies, for some, an opportunity to stand by their families, and for others, the first capital to build their future.
In the harsh reality of the mountains, delivering sewing machines to these 40 women has opened the door to a new possibility. Only time will tell how far they can go by utilizing their skills. However, it has only begun—with the dream of standing on their own feet.
