News

November 25, was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.

One in three women and girls around the world has experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Currently, The Sreepur Village is working to empower 150 mothers, of which the following are: 23 divorced, 57 abandoned, 30 separated,      5 unmarried, 35 widowed. Out of these 150 women, regardless of their marital status, over 100 have experienced some form of brutal violence in their lifetime.

Primary Education Completion (PEC) tests have begun in Bangladesh and fourteen fifth grade students from the Sreepur Village will be taking these exams this year.  Prior to this, fifth grade students would take the Primary Education Certificate examination.

For the last few days our children, their mothers and the teachers have been heavily engaged in preparations for their forthcoming exams. In the morning, before they left the village for the exam centre, we took a photo of them. They were a little nervous, however, at the assembly hall all the children, teachers and staff wished them good luck and GOOD LUCK from all of us too.

The garment industry of Bangladesh has played an important role in economically enriching a large group of poor and vulnerable women. Today, approximately 80% of garment workers are women. So, having this source of income not only helps women to lead a better life but it also provides them with more confidence at home, a social sphere and higher self-esteem. The most important thing is, however, that they can survive and help save their families. The number of women from impoverished northern districts of Bangladesh joining the garments sector are much lower due to lack of awareness of opportunities, risks of relocation, and uncertainty about securing a job quickly.

The environment in which women can acquire and retain literacy skills is shaped by various forms of social, economic and religious restrictions and for poverty-stricken women in rural Bangladesh, the opportunity to study is simply not an option. Instead many women stay at home spending most of their lives as housewives. which can create conditions where literacy skills can be lost which in turn leads to a new form of vulnerability. Our mothers are the best example of this vulnerability. 

The Sreepur Village believes in addressing women's literacy to improve confidence and the quality of lives. This helps to reduce poverty, increases work opportunities and in doing so improves the mother and child’s health and well-being.