Mita (Pseudonym), a 37-year-old mother of four, had endured hardship all her life. She lived in a climate-vulnerable region of Bangladesh. Her days were a constant battle against rising waters, but the most devastating storm she faced was within her own home.

Her husband, consumed by addiction and violence, inflicted unimaginable pain on her, both physically and emotionally. Despair gripped her heart, and one fateful day, overwhelmed by hopelessness, Mita plunged into the river, spending fifteen minutes submerged before being discovered and rushed to the hospital.

Following her physical recovery, Mita embarked on a different journey - one of mental healing - under SAJIDA Foundation’s Climate Change Programme (CCP). Recognising the gravity of her situation, the programme officer intervened immediately.

Lay Counselling sessions were offered to help Mita find her way back from the edge of despair. The programme officer carefully tailored six counselling sessions to meet Mita’s unique needs, addressing her deep depression and emotional trauma.

Throughout the sessions, Mita slowly began to rediscover reasons to embrace life, even while navigating the hardships of raising four children in a climate-affected region. As the sessions progressed, she found strength in her love for her children and hope for their future.

By the final session, she expressed her newfound determination to ensure her daughter’s education, shifting her focus to nurturing her children’s future and prioritising her well-being.

Mita’s story is one of profound resilience, rising from the depths of hopelessness to reclaim her life and her journey of healing continues. Reflecting on her transformation, Mita shares, ‘I once thought there was no way out of the darkness, but with each step, I found a reason to hope again. My children’s future is my strength, and now, I fight for them.’