In a patriarchal society, women often face subordination and obstacles in accessing education and employment, limiting their opportunities to engage and voice their ideas in community forums. These challenges are even more pronounced for individuals with disabilities, who experience social stigma and marginalization, making it difficult to achieve a decent life.
Khadija Akter, a visual disability woman from Rayenda Union, Bangladesh, embodies the harsh reality of this situation. Born into a patriarchal culture, the 32-year-old has confronted adversities and injustices since childhood. However, driven by an unwavering determination to secure a better future, she transformed the bitter experiences she endured into a beacon of hope and opportunity.
Lifeline in a Sea of Hardships
Khadija resides with her only daughter in a shabby thatched hut in someone else’s yard, relying solely on her meagre income as a household assistant. She took on this job following the loss of her beloved father when her family dispatched her to live with a relative instead of sending her to school.
“In gratitude for their kindness, I worked as their household assistant until I eventually reunited with my brother,” Khadija revealed, opening up about her past.
However, the long-awaited reunion with her family failed to significantly improve her quality of life. Shortly after her return, her family arranged a marriage for her—a union that proved fleeting, resulting in the birth of her only daughter, who is now seven years old. Abandoned by her husband, Khadija found herself shouldering the responsibility of raising their child alone, further exacerbating her dire financial circumstances.
“Fortunately, despite his impoverished situation, my brother has shown unswerving support. Though limited, his assistance holds immeasurable value for my survival,” she explained, her faint smile reflecting a resilient spirit.
Rising from the Shadows
Khadija’s life underwent a remarkable transformation when she joined the Shapla Self-Help Group in 2021. Beyond attending monthly meetings, she eagerly engaged in training programs delivered by the Center for Disability in Development (CDD) and Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) Indonesia and the Philippines. Through the Strengthening Resilience in South and South-East Asia by Integrating Risk Management, Social Inclusion, and Socio-Economic Development Program, Khadija and her fellow members acquired abundant knowledge in inclusive disaster risk reduction (DiDRR), leadership, the rights of persons with disabilities, inclusive water and sanitation (WASH), as well as village savings and loan associations (VSLA).
Her active involvement eventually led her to become one of Shapla‘s executive members. In 2022, she received a mobility cane provided by the program, to assist her with mobility. Khadija embraced this opportunity and became deeply involved in advocacy efforts at both the government and grass-roots levels. At the government level, she passionately advocated for the Union Parishad, the smallest rural administrative and local government unit in Bangladesh. Within her community, Khadija played a pivotal role in raising public awareness about the environmentally friendly cooking stove known as Bondhu Chula.
In recognition of her dedication and hard work, the Bondhu Foundation, the implementing partner for the Bondhu Chula installation under CDD, bestowed upon Khadija a reward of BDT 1000 ($9.24). This honour was in acknowledgement of her remarkable achievement in persuading 20 households, in addition to the 300 beneficiary households, to voluntarily adopt the use of the stove.
Life-Changing Support Network
Khadija’s involvement with Shapla gradually transformed her life in a positive direction. Apart from gaining new knowledge, she obtained tremendous support from her fellow Self-Help Group members. One act of support that deeply touched her was when they assisted her in repairing the roof of her house.
With a meagre and unstable income, Khadija realized that replacing her worn-out thatched roof would be financially bur
densome. However, living with a deteriorating roof posed significant difficulties as rainwater seeped through the cracks during the monsoon season. Fortunately, her compassionate colleagues at Shapla stepped in to help. Using the organization’s contingency funds, they procured and installed polymer sheets to cover Khadija’s thatched roof, ensuring rainwater would no longer permeate it.
Furthermore, through the program implemented by CDD and ASB, Khadija and her brother received assistance with a rainwater harvesting system. The tool enabled them to collect and purify rainwater for drinking purposes.
“Being part of Shapla and participating in this program has been an incredible stroke of luck. They not merely repaired my house’s roof but also assisted me in accessing disability funds from the Social Welfare Department of GOB, which were previously inaccessible to me. Moreover, they generously provided me with three goats. These benefits have empowered me to plan for a brighter future,” she expressed, brimming with emotion.
