Success Stories of Halima Begum

The Light of Expectation

Halima Begum, a simple, industrious and courageous housewife from a fisher folk community change her own fate through her will power and hard work.She lives in Atashibari village of Radhaganj union in Kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj district. She is currently 40 years old and is a member of Atashibari Nari Dol (Women Group). Her husband Layek Khandaker is 45 years old. They have one daughter and three sons. The eldest daughter Sonia Khandaker is 23 years old and studying in the second year of BA in Bhangar Hat Kazi Montu College. The eldest son Ronnie Khandaker is 20 years old and he is in the 1st year of BA. Rest of the two sons are also studying in HSC and class 8. For a long time, Halima’s husband harvesting fishes from local water sources and fish harvesting is the only earning sources of his large family. Besides fishing, he also does small scale agricultural work. But now it is becoming quite difficult to find fish in rivers or canals and bear family expenses within this limited income.

In the absence of her husband, she spends her days worrying about the future and wondering how to establish children. Halima Begum was looking for an alternative earning source besides her husband’s income. Ambala ITMFC Project organize women’s group discussion meeting on various issues in every month. Halima Begum was participated in the group discussion meeting of the Ambala Foundation ITMFC project to create alternative employment opportunities for her families. In 2019, Halima Begum received a three-day training on cattle rearing from the Ambala ITMFC project. After receiving training, Halima Begum started raising cattle on a small scale. At first she purchased a cow and started taking care of her cattle’s. The cow now gives 3 to 4 kg of milk daily, sells the milk and earns around Tk. 200 per day.  She now easily contribute her family income and their children education.

Halima’s wish is to make children higher educated and established. Halima Begum is now financially profitable by selling the milk she gets from cows every day and also meet the nutritional needs of boys and girls. But Halima Begum is now in a lot of trouble due to the adverse impact of corona epidemic. During Corona, the husband almost stopped fishing. Because at the local level, going out of the house has become quite complicated and even he couldn’t sold his captured fish in local market. It was really impossible for her husband to bear this large members family income. During this time, they have to starving for some days.

One day in May, Radhaganj Union Field Supervisor told Halima Begum that Ambala Foundation will provide cash support to hardcore family members under ITMFC project. This assistance will be given to those who are very poor. Halima Begum seemed to see a flash of light during the great danger of Corona. Halima Begum received a total of Tk 7,500 cash assistance from Ambala Foundation in 3 installments as Corona Support. After receiving the first installment, Halima Begum decided to start a small goat farm. Halima Begum bought two goats from a man in the village. Halima Begum cultivates vegetables and raises chickens in her backyard. By selling these every month, she earn an average of around 2000 tk per month. Halima Begum said, “I am able to sustain my family because I received cash support from Ambala Foundation. If I didn’t get this money, I would have to sell poultry and cows and my daughter and sons education will also stopped. It can be said that this initiative of Halima Begum can be an example and other women in the area can also engage themselves in alternative income generating activities.

Halima Begum said, ” At present, I have eight goats. The current value of those goats are about 21,000 Tk. Ambala Foundation has been working tirelessly to improve the living standards of the fisher folk community of Kotalipara Upazila under Gopalganj district along with the financial support of Manusher Jonno Foundation.”

Halima Begum is now playing an important role in her families decision making and also contribute in her family income. She now travels alone to the Upazila Sadar and receives various social safety net supports. Halima Begum said that women can stand on their own feet if they want. Seeing this success of Halima Begum, many women of the village have become involved in various income generating activities. Halima Begum said, “My dream has come true today only for Ambala Foundation. Because Ambala Foundation has provided me income generating training otherwise I couldn’t change my fate and fortune. My family and I are grateful to the Ambala Foundation and Manusher Jonno Foundation for standing by with and extending their supportive hand.