Mum of four Ayesha lives in Dargabil village under Rajapalong Union, Ukhiya in Bangladesh. Her husband Osman Gani is a day labourer but doesn’t get regular work, so they needed to find a way to support their family. Now, thanks to our project, funded by the International Organization of Migration, SafePlus and OFDA, they have been able to open a grocery shop.
Ayesha first became involved in our project through working with women in her local self-help group. During their meetings, Ayesha discussed her opportunities and how she might leverage her existing assets and skills into opening a small grocery shop for her community. She explained that the sale of the cow she had bought could help facilitate this process if she had the right understanding and tools to ensure her success.
Following the meeting, a community mobiliser assessed her situation and invited her to participate in entrepreneur development and business plan development training facilitated by United Purpose. Ayesha explains that, “I had a dream to develop a business to solve our poverty situation. But, I didn’t know how to take what I had and turn it into a business. This has helped us plan it out based on what we know and what we can reasonably do.”
The proceeds from the sale of her cow, together with a grant from our project, was enough for Ayesha to set up a rack of products and a refrigerator in her shop space and begin to trade. Ayesha now regularly makes BDT 500-600 each day through her shop, which is enough to feed her family and help her children pursue their education.
“I have met my dream of establishing a business as a regular income source. The interventions of United Purpose supported me to develop a business idea and set up the business as a secured livelihood for my family.” – Ayesha Begum.