Moyna Begum grew up in Melandoho, Jamalpur. Early into her teenage years, her family succumbed to the hardships of poverty and married her off, making her part of the 50 percent of Bangladeshi women currently in their mid-20s who are married before they turn 18. An already unkind reality took a turn for worse as her husband, soon after the birth of their son, left Moyna Begum, to marry another woman.

Full of despair, she and her little son left Jamalpur station for the city of hope-Dhaka. But life in the capital was anything but hopeful for her. Her shelter was the over-bridge at Komolapur. She spent her days gathering scraps and begging for a handful of food to feed her son and herself. They spent their nights under the open sky, exposed to all the nocturnal dangers.

Moyna Begum’s dark skies finally saw a silver lining as a SAJIDA field officer from the Amrao Manush program, informed her about the services and benefits of the program. Moyna Begum could once again dream of a better life and expressed her wish to be self-sufficient to the SAJIDA field officers. Upon receiving entrepreneurship training, she was provided with a grant of BDT 6,000.

In her own words, Moyna Begum describes her life after the intervention of the Amrao Manush program as; “SAJIDA Foundation has given me a life of dignity. From a pavement-dweller, I now live in a house where I pay the rent.”

Moyna Begum owns and runs a tea-stall beside Mugda Hospital. She is a self-sufficient with savings and a roof over her head. Thanks to SAJIDA Foundation, she dreams of a brighter future for her son.

In her own words, Moyna Begum describes her life after the intervention of the Amrao Manush program as; “SAJIDA Foundation has given me a life of dignity. From a pavement-dweller, I now live in a house where I pay the rent.”

Moyna Begum owns and runs a tea-stall beside Mugda Hospital. She is a self-sufficient with savings and a roof over her head. Thanks to SAJIDA Foundation, she dreams of a brighter future for her son.