A successful Entrepreneur in the Village
Health Focused-Disaster Risk Reduction (HF-DRR) project activities were implemented in Nageshwari sub-district of Kurigram district. One of the activities was to empower women by supporting them to form Self-help Groups (SHG). In the Self-help groups, women meet together to collect their savings and distribute loans among the members to support their families in need. This savings group activity under the project in Nageshwary gave Sumaiya Begum a pathway to start a shop selling low cost items in her village. Sumaiya is the President of Majher char SHG at Noonkhawa union. Her husband had to move to other places during the lean session for livelihood.
They have two children. Unfortunately, her husband suffered from a stomach ulcer and spent all the savings on treatment. The family was struggling to meet the husband's treatment cost and the children's education cost. "I was so helpless! I am thankful that the HF-DRR project trained me. I got the courage and confidence to open a shop in my village after the training I received from LAMB. Afterwards I took a loan from my Self-help group and started a small shop selling cheap everyday goods. Now, I earn at least Tk. 300 daily from the shop. I am also rearing cows, goats and chickens. With the extra money, I support my husband in cultivating paddy. I worked hard and got the result. Please pray for my business to go ahead to succeed." Said Sumaiya.