Witness of Livelihood Support Project

Sajeda Akhter (28 years old woman) to live with her husband Nurul Alam live in the village in Bikkul, Jhilonza Union in Cox’sBazar district. Her husband is only the earning member of their family and the source of income is daily wages from public transport. They are 8 members in their family with 3 daughters and 1 son. Through this small income of her husband, they could not arrange their three meals properly after started a pandemic situation. She learned tailoring and tries to earn money to contribute to her family. But she does not have her own sewing machine. 

In the Cox’sBazar area host community people are facing new problems due to the Rohingya influx and COVID 19 pandemic situation especially during the lockdown time on their livelihoods.

Sajeda had a long-cherished desire to contribute to her husband’s income and earn money with dignity way and improve their economic conditions and get rid of poverty. She was trained in sewing and tailoring intensively for twenty-one days and did well in the training. After having successful training, she borrows a sewing machine from her neighbors.

One day Sajeda heard about Dipti Foundation, an NGO that is going to provide a sewing machine to poor families for income generation activities with some accessories and clothes to started tailoring as an occupation. Then she contracts with the UNO office and shown her interest to get a sewing machine and in March 2021 she received one sewing machine with the necessary clothes for a tailoring shop.

After receiving the sewing machine; Sajeda opened a tailoring shop in her house. In the beginning, she was sewing Blouse, petticoat, Shalwar Kameez of her relatives and neighbors clothes. The tailoring shop is the turning point of her life. She worked hard and earned BD. Tk. 2,500 in April 2021 During Eid festival time and now she believes that her business will have booming.

This initiative has been created new hope and increases her dignity in society. She is trying to increase her income/business to help her family and wants to continue her children’s education and one day she wants to be a Joyita (Women role model) in the society that fightss with poverty. 

Sajeda expresses her thanks to Dipti Foundation and its partners for providing the sewing machine to her. May 29, 2021, Cox’sBazar