21-year-old Morsheda lives in Kurigram, Bangladesh. With Christian Aid’s help, her and nine other women have built a successful clothing business.
The profits have allowed them to return to education and receive the learning that they were unable to get as young girls. The business is ran by a team of 10, who Morsheda says are more than just colleagues. They’re a community of women just like herself, with joint ambition to thrive.
With your help, many women like Morsheda could be given the chance to make their dreams a reality. To support young women and girls in Bangladesh, donate what you can now.
When they come, we sit together and discuss clothes… When the 10 of us get together and talk, I like that the most.
Due to the death of her father, and the subsequent impact on her mother’s finances, Morsheda never had access to an education. Like many mothers in the area, she married Morsheda off at a young age.
'They can’t continue to study; it’s a huge loss. If they study, they can do big things.’ Morsheda shared. ‘In childhood, I wanted to study but I couldn’t because of my parents. But I am studying now. Because of my willpower, I am studying… There is no alternative to education.’
This year, after Morsheda and her team raised BDT20,249 ($183), the Comilla Project granted them another BDT20,000 ($181), nearly doubling their savings pot.
This money allowed them not only to start their clothing business, but also to receive the education many young women like them miss out on.
Morsheda’s business quickly made profit, earning between BDT500 ($5) and BDT2000 ($18) each month.
After receiving e-commerce training from our partner Aid Comilla, Morsheda started to upload her team’s garments to an online shop, which she claims will be particularly helpful during the winter months when customers are less likely to wander down to the shop in colder temperatures. They can simply check the stock online and before arriving, so they know exactly what is available to purchase.
We never imagined that we will run an online clothing business at home… Aid Comilla gave us support and we took it with courage. As we started the business with little money, further help will mean we can develop this business.
However, not all of Morsheda’s worries about her business and education are entirely resolved.
Her local area is prone to flooding. When flooding happens, it prevents everyone from earning and studying, creating great loss and causing more mothers to marry off their daughters to survive.
Morsheda dreams of building her business large enough that her team, family and herself can survive these conditions whenever they hit.
Those who made it possible for us to do business in this remote area, I want to thank them. To continue with our business, I hope they will stay beside us. Thank you so much
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