Before attending her weekly training, Moyna, did not know what to expect. “I’ve never even touched a sewing machine” admits Moyna. Nevertheless, her lack of experience and knowledge of the garment industry has not dampened her dream of one day becoming self-employed, providing the economic support that her family so desperately needs. Her husband, Harun, is presently employed as a rickshaw puller and is the sole source of income for their household of eight. The hours are long, the labour is hard and the income is not as stable as they would want.
Moyna is one of the more than 50 beneficiaries of Global One’s livelihood and entrepreneurship programme, in partnership with Human Appeal International, to economically empower the disadvantaged women of Dhaka’s Mirpur district in Bangladesh. In addition to receiving training on sewing, tailoring and screen printing, among other skills, these women are also taught about the many important concepts of running a business, such as marketing, budgeting and human resource management.
For Global One’s Asia programme, 2016 represents the most important year yet. By the time that this eighteen-month project reaches its completion date in July, not only will these women have been equipped with the necessary skills to embark on a long career in Bangladesh’s flagship garment industry, Global One will also have initiated a number of new development projects across the continent, ranging from those advocating improved menstrual hygiene management practices among adolescents, to the construction of environmentally-sustainable latrines in rural areas.
Perhaps the most ambitious of the Asia programme’s upcoming projects is the launch of a series of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) education workshops in a number of countries throughout the region using a unique faith-based approach to reduce the incidence and spread of water-borne, sanitation and hygiene-related diseases in impoverished communities.
It is a project that captures the essence of the cornerstone of Global One’s work – promoting knowledge-based and attitudinal changes while working within, and respecting, cultural norms. What’s more, this project involves the production of informative and educational resources, an area that Global One has earned much praise for over the years, including those originating from international bodies and agencies such as UNICEF.
“I think this training will benefit me a lot” posits Moyna. Though she remains unsure about what the future holds, one thing is certain: Global One’s efforts have provided her, and the countless other beneficiaries across the world, the chance to break through the socio-economic shackles holding her back from realising her hopes, dreams and aspirations.
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