Once a day labourer in other people’s fields, Jorina now stands proudly in her own flourishing garden.
“In my days of sadness, I had no one. Every day was a struggle,” recalls Jorina Begum, remembering the years she spent homeless and working as a day labourer. After being abandoned by her husband and left to raise her young daughter alone, she found herself trapped in a cycle of poverty that felt impossible to break.
Her most painful moment came not from hunger but from watching her daughter suffer. After saving for years to arrange her daughter’s marriage, Jorina saw her hopes fall apart when the in-laws began mistreating her because the dowry had not been paid in full.
Everything changed when the Islamic Relief SEED project reached her village. Recognised as one of the most vulnerable women in the area, Jorina was selected to join the programme. The group quickly noticed her natural leadership and elected her as President of the Panjrabhanga Women’s Entrepreneur Group. Through leadership training and confidence‑building sessions, she gained knowledge, skills, and a renewed sense of purpose.
With a cash grant of 25,000 BDT, her own savings, and Qard Al Hassan (interest‑free loans), Jorina purchased a bull, a goat, and indigenous hens. For the first time, livestock ownership was within her reach. She set up a small vegetable garden using seeds provided by the project, earning extra income from the surplus produce. Each small step strengthened her resilience.
But she didn’t stop there. After receiving training in organic soap production, she took another interest‑free loan to buy materials and began making soap from home. Her products quickly gained popularity within the village and nearby communities. Today, she has a formal trade licence and is steadily expanding her business.
When her daughter was sent home in distress, Jorina refused to face the situation alone. She gathered the women from her group and together they visited her son‑in‑law’s family. By standing united, they were able to advise the couple, address the abuse, and bring her daughter back to a peaceful and supportive home. This collective strength became the foundation for Jorina’s continued progress.
From a day labourer living with constant uncertainty, Jorina has become a respected leader, a growing entrepreneur, and a woman who now provides for her family with confidence and dignity. Her journey shows how a combination of financial support, skills training, and social empowerment can help women break the cycle of poverty and rebuild their lives.
Islamic Relief Bangladesh, through the SEED project, is supporting women like Jorina from 2,000 rural households, helping them to become micro‑entrepreneurs and build sustainable livelihoods. By offering practical training, interest‑free loans, and financial support, the project enables women to increase their income, strengthen their resilience, and lead their families towards a more secure future.