By Mohammed Asaduzzman Sayem | Project leader
Family poverty drives families into sending their children to work and COVID-19, recent flood in Sylhet region are pushing more people into extreme poverty. We identify a suitable enterprise, contribute a micro grant to get it off the ground and embed business support to ensure success. This is underpinned with social and welfare support to safeguard the education of their children.
We support families to identify an enterprise that suits their skills and experience, and that will produce a reliable and sustainable income. A micro grant purchases what is needed to start their small business. Money is not given directly to the household, instead we purchase the goods that are needed and our field workers ensure they are used as intended, helping them make appropriate decisions and building their confidence and skills to ensure success.
These small businesses give families an essential lifeline to pay rent, buy food and meet every day essential needs. Crucially, it means they can afford to send their children to school instead of to work or into early marriage. The support period gives each family time to successfully establish their business and develop a long-term sustainable income. They are able to rise out of poverty and provide for their family without relying on their children's labour.
Over the last three months we have supported 32 families by Micro Grants.
Story of Forhad :
16-year-old Forhad and his mother Fahida own a business now!
Forhad began his journey with UKBET in 2020 as part of the Doorstep learning project. He and his mother used to work as domestic servants in various households of Sylhet. After being accepted into UKBET's DSLP, Forhad quit his full time job as a domestic helper and began working part-time in a hotel so that he could continue his studies with UKBET while still providing for his family. After 1.5 years of working in a hotel, he has gained enough experience and has a strong desire to one day own his own hotel.
Seeing his passion and dedication, UKBET supported him and his mother in establishing their own business. Today is the first day of his "Ma Restaurant." It was not an easy journey from being a domestic servant to owning a business. But he and his mother dreamed of it anyway, and today is the day when their dream became a reality.
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By Mohammed Sayem | Project leader
By Mohammed Sayem | Project leader
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