"When my husband left me with two children, I fell into dire straits. We arrived at The Sreepur Village in 2020 and I feel much better here. Now, I dream of prosperous days ahead. Along with other livelihood training I’m focusing on tailoring because after three years, in 2023, when I leave the Sreepur Village I'm going to start a tailoring business where other mothers in my community will get the chance to work with me."
Khaleda, seen above, is a mother of two daughters and she comes from Narayangonj a central city in Bangladesh. Khaleda came to live in The Sreepur Village in the middle of 2019, she shared with us:
"My husband used to beat me often as he was demanding a dowry but my father couldn’t afford to pay. Eventually he left me so that he could marry someone else. At the Sreepur Village I dream of completing the tie-dye training successfully because after that I want to a start tie-dye business in my community and also teach tie-dye to other mothers in my community."
Khadiza, seen above, is a mother of one son and one daughter, she is from Shunamgonj in the Sylhet Division of north-eastern Bangladesh.
"I arrived at The Sreepur Village in August 2020. A few days into my marriage I noticed that my husband was taking drugs and drinking heavily and he was not contributing to our family. He only wanted to stay at home and drink alcohol and take drugs. I tried to convince him to stop and he told me he would, but he never did!. Eventually he started to develop a number of health issues and could no longer support us. Since arriving at the Sreepur Village my children and I have been spending quality time together. My children are going to school, we are getting food, clothes, everything. Under the livelihood training programme, I’m currently being trained in small shop business. My future plan is to start a small grocery shop in my community."
Thank you for supporting our mothers in providing them with the opportunities to fulfil their aspirations and ambitions.
Life can sometimes throw unimaginable challenges at us, but it's the human spirit's resilience and determination that can lead to remarkable stories of triumph.
Lia's life is a testament to this spirit, marked by adversity, courage, and ultimate success. Lia's story draws parallels to other stories of perseverance, and highlights the crucial role of organisations like Sreepur Village in transforming lives.
Out of the blue, at the tender age of 13, Chia found herself sitting on a bridal stage, about to marry a man who was 35 years old. Her parents had arranged the match, finding the man from their nearby locality in Bhairab.
He was a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) businessman who occasionally sold vegetables and fruits on the street. Chia's aspirations and youthful dreams were abruptly interrupted by this sudden marriage. Instead of books, she found herself with kitchen utensils in her hands. She went from feeling like a princess to becoming a servant overnight.