Wars and international disputes always bring suffering to ordinary people. After the Bangladesh war of independence in 1971, thousands of Bihari people living as refugees in Dhaka were not allowed to return to Pakistan. Social exclusion and lack of formal citizenship in Bangladesh made it impossible for them to get work.
Tearfund’s partner Heed was inspired to create employment opportunities for the Bihari people in handicrafts production using locally available resources. More than 30 years on, an estimated 10,000 people have had access to training and employment as a result of Heed’s activities. But it is not really about big statistics – it is about the changed lives of individuals.
People like Nurul Islam Nuru.
As a boy, Nuru was a capable student with a dream of becoming a Masters graduate. However, he could not continue his studies – he realised that his father would not be able to provide food for his three younger brothers and four sisters with his small income. Nuru recalls, ‘Many days my parents skipped their meal to provide food for us. It was very painful for me.’
Being the eldest son, Nuru felt the responsibility to work to help his father support the family and left his village for Dhaka. There he joined a small leather workshop as a trainee worker in return for just food and accommodation in the factory. ‘As I slept in the factory I would dream that one day I would get a salary and would make my parents happy with my income.’
Even after his training the salary was poor, but he continued patiently for 12 years, improving his skills and working hard. Then he heard about Heed Handicrafts through a friend, and within three years has been able to set up his own business employing 12 artisans, supplying leather goods around the world. He is finally able to support his family, as he dreamt, and to enable his daughter to have the schooling that he had to miss out on.
Sayedur works for Heed as a leather worker
One of Heed’s specialities is leather. Mohammad Sayedur Rahman’s family couldn’t afford to send him to school, so he went to Dhaka where his brother got him a leather-working job.
For 14 years he learnt the skills of leatherwork and started his business in 1995. ‘I saved some money and borrowed from friends to get started. At the beginning it was hard, but now I can stand on my own feet and provide for my family and my parents too.
Most of Sayedur’s employees have had no schooling and come from very poor families. ‘If they didn’t have this work, they’d be pulling rickshaws,’ he says. ‘I feel very pleased that I’m able to help 12 other families. Please pray for plenty of work for them and me.’