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Small effort, great job

NGO shows light to illiterate, destitute women in remote Patuakhali shoals

oUR CoRREspoNDENT, Patuakhali
Thirty year-old Monwara was illiterate. She can read and write now and contributes at least Tk 800 to her family of three with two children. Her husband is a poor fisherman.
She like Aysha, Amena, Khadeja and Kulsum, all aged between 25 and 30, have now a changed view of life. They dream of education for their children and better life.
This correspondent was awed while talking to women members of the Char Unnayan Kendra (shoal development centre) at its small but tidy office cum library at Char Wadel in remote Najirpur union in Bauphal upazila.
They are aware of the International Mother Language Day (February 21 Sheheed Dibash), International Women's Day, Human Rights Day, Victory Day and Independence Day.
They have also adopted family planning. All have sanitary latrines and tubewells at home are aware of common waterborne diseases.
The Char Unnayan Kendra launched the programme in the area in November, 2002. It organised distressed women, made them literate and trained them in various income gener-
ating activities.
Their number is 70 now. None is a destitute.
They earned for their families. Monwara is the team leader.
"I was illiterate and my husband earned a small amount daily from fishing in a hired boat, which was not enough for buying even rice", Monwara said.
One day she came to the NGO office. They gave her one month's training on poultry raising and Tk 4000 loan. She now earns at least Tk 800 from her small farm.
Income of some of the women is up to Tk 4000 from poultry, they said.
Parvin Begum, manager of the NGO, said, "First we taught them reading, writing and calculating at the office and then gave them training on various trades".
Women can borrow books from the small library for a week.
Khadeja said her husband did not care for her opinion about their family earlier because she was illiterate. Now he taken her views into consideration because she is no more illiterate and also earns for the family.
Same is with most other women members of the NGO.They all gather at the office on Friday and discuss among their problems and possibilities.
They also view TV at the office and are aware of what is happening in the outside world.