The Story of Mizaz Bibi becoming Self-reliant

Mizaz Bibi (43) lives isolated village of Keorakandi of Mandari Union in Baniachong Upazila in Habiganj District. After from born, she had faced an unlucky dream in her Father’s and Husband’s houses. She has a family of ten members, including her husband, three sons, and five daughters. Her husband was a day laborer and the only earner in their family. Their family could not eat three meals in a day and had no respect in the family as she had no income and there were always quarrels in her family. Since 2016, the Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) has been working on the SHOUHARDO III Program with Mizaz Bibi to improve livelihood options, Village Savings Loan Association (VSLA) social dignity, Gender equality, resilience capacity, and also increase household income. She had received sessions, training, meetings, and counseling to build capacity by involving IGA, health, and social awareness. After the training, she received financial assistance BDT 3000 from the DAM, SHOUHARDO III Program to develop. According to a business plan, she had started to raise Sheep alongside indigenous Chickens and Family Vegetable Gardening. After one year, she sold a Sheep for BDT 5000 and bought 10 Swans. She took a loan of BDT 5000 from the VSLA to buy Swan’s food during the rainy season. After one year, she sold eight Swans BDT 9600, and that finance, she started a Fish business with her lovely Husband. She earns BDT 600-700 from buying and selling fish, Vegetables, and eggs daily. She has 80 Swans, and the market price will be around BDT 100000. Mizaz Bibi has been working to improve community arbitration and stop Child marriage and domestic violence. Alongside, it has been expanding destitute women through linkage, advocacy among different services providers and Government and Private sectors to take the financial and human assistance for their improvement. President of the Village Development Committee of Kewrakandi said that Mizaz Bibi had created examples of social and economic success. Our community people take learning from the Mizaz Bibi, and she is giving support the other people. Mizaz Bibi said that I have increased social acceptance, financial income, and ability to decision-making capacity. DAM SHOUHARDO III Program has learned how to overcome fear, and frustration, survive life, Savings, and manage people. Where there was no money for purchasing basic Food, I now am there, Savings BDT 5000 every year at Islami Bank. Now, my dream is to educate our Children, and I will Cow Farming.