Power the potential of women and girls

Angeline is a livestock farmer in Gbatala, Libera. Originally from Monrovia, Angeline moved to Gbatala as a teenager. After marrying and having three children, her husband left when she was 32 years old.

Even though Angeline had no source of income, she decided to stay in Gbatala, stating, “This is my home.”

For years, Angeline’s primary source of income came from buying and selling fish. She would travel to the nearby city of Gbarnga, purchase fish in bulk, and sell it in her local market for a modest profit. Her children would help her sell at her market stall. Since fish goes bad quickly, whatever fish she and her children couldn’t sell would be smoked on an outdoor grill, ensuring it stayed fresh for as long as possible.

In 2019, Angeline came in contact with BRAC. She received a pig and participated in a three-day training on raising pigs. After breeding her pig with one of her neighbors’ pigs, her pig farm expanded. Today, she proudly tends to 22 pigs.

By selling the pigs she raises, Angeline is supplementing her income and creating a sustainable livelihood. Her additional income has enabled her to feed her family, send her grandchildren to school, and cover essential medical expenses.

With her increased savings, Angeline purchased land with a vision to build a new house. “As soon as women have the money, women can have the opportunity,” she asserts confidently.

Angeline’s dedication to her family’s well-being and success is evident. Now that hunger doesn’t stand in their way, her family is thriving. One of her children is a high school teacher, another a motorbike taxi driver, and the third is pursuing higher education. Meanwhile, her young grandchildren are attending school and building the foundations for their own positive futures. 

Angeline’s success is a testament to the possibilities that unfold when women are empowered to take control of their economic destinies. Empowering women can break the cycle of poverty for generations.

Links:

• https://bracusa.org/

Overcoming poverty is a tremendous challenge for anyone, but for people who also face oppression and marginalization for who they are or where they come from, escaping the poverty trap can seem impossible. Yet, with the right tools, opportunities, and hope, there is always a way. 

Cynthia's story is a perfect example: An artisan, entrepreneur, and transgender woman, she went from experiencing poverty and hardship to growing her fashion empire and uplifting other transgender people in her community. 

At a young age, Cynthia realized she was different. She was not interested in what boys tended to be interested in, and she felt like a girl. “I was born a boy, I looked like one. But with each passing day, I began to feel more like a girl," she said.

While her mother was accepting of her identity, others were not. She was teased in school, and she eventually dropped out when her family fell on hard times and they were forced to move. 

From her family's small tin shed in Dhaka, it was up to Cynthia to help support her family. She first learned to raise cattle,and started to grow a business selling milk. But when a disastrous flood struck the area, many of the cows fell to a deadly disease, and she was forced to shut the business down.

Later, Cynthia met a tailor in her neighborhood, and he agreed to teach her how to sew and tailor garments. The tailor worked for Aarong, BRAC’s flagship social enterprise and retail outlet that creates a platform for local artisans to sell their products at a fair price, and referred Cynthia to its headquarters.

Cynthia was given two designs and asked to turn in samples of her work. Upon her return to Aarong, Cynthia’s samples passed the quality check and she became a producer for Aarong. She made $350 on her first order.

Despite overcoming many obstacles to be taken seriously and create an opportunity to start a new career, Cynthia did not give up. She built her clothing business carefully and steadily, and as her business grew, she never compromised the quality of her work and always ensured she paid her workers fairly, earning her business a good reputation. 

Today, Cynthia’s fashion empire, Bhuiyan Fashion, employs over 200 people, and she focuses on rehabilitating, training, and employing transgender people like herself.

Although Cynthia’s story is one of overcoming poverty and hardship, it is also one of triumphing as a transgender woman in Bangladeshi society. Her journey is a testament to what anyone, no matter their circumstances, can do when they are equipped with the opportunities and hope they need to change their lives.

“My story had a rough start,” Cynthia told us, “but I’m grateful for everything life has taught me. I tell myself every day – this is only the beginning. I’m only starting to fly.”

Thank you for your comittment to breaking the cycle of poverty for women and girls around the world. We are so grateful for your support.

Links:

• Donate to support women and girls.
• Visit our website.
• Learn more about Cynthia's story.