Gender Equality Bangladesh Project #27681

Economic Empowerment of the Coastal Women

by Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS)

Economic Empowerment of the Coastal Women

Summary

Women empowerment is a must when the question of national economic stability is arises. It is required to drive away poverty from the coastal area and establish women's position at home and in the society. Unfortunately, women of the Sundarbans coastal region are the worst sufferer in this prospect. Most of them collect shrimp fry to support their family. But they are not given priority in family decision making for their poor income. Self-income generating activities can solve this problem.

$11,518
total goal

$7,191
remaining

46
donors

2
monthly donors

2
fundraisers

5
years

Challenge

Poverty is the main barrier for sustainable development and conservation. As the women here earn a little, they become very much underprivileged here. Even the girls are considered as burden for their family. They do not get the opportunity to study and get married at an early age. So, they fall in various health hazards and immature pregnancy. To overcome this peculiar situation, there is no alternative of women empowerment. So, we should focus on their income generating activities.

Solution

BEDS has previously trained 50 fisher women of Mathurapur fishing village under Satkhira district adjacent to the Sundarbans. Our trained women are not financially capable to purchase new sewing machines for them. Due to their restricted movement, market chain development for their product is another impossible task for them. So, by getting support from this project, they will make new products and earn more for their families. Thus their poverty will be reduced and they can become empowered.

Long-Term Impact

Sewing machines will help the trained women to continue their sewing activities in the long run. If these trained women can earn money from this business, their poverty will be reduced and they will be treated as valued members in their families and society. These women shrimp fry collectors will divert their profession from fishing to businesses which will reduce some pressure on the mangrove forest. So, their children would continue their study and they contribute on conservation initiatives .