Aklima’s Journey from Despair to Dignity
At just 21 years old, Aklima’s life had already been marked by hardship.
Born and raised in Rangpur, she was married at an early age—a common vulnerability for girls in rural Bangladesh, where early marriage can close the door on education and independence before it has ever really opened. Before she truly understood what adulthood meant, she became a mother—first to a son, now four years old, and then to a daughter, just two. Motherhood filled her heart with love, but her world soon collapsed when her husband abandoned her, leaving her alone with two small children and no income.
With nowhere else to turn, Aklima went back to her parents’ home. But poverty had already tightened its grip on her family. Her father, a day laborer, struggled daily just to provide a single meal. Feeding three extra mouths was nearly impossible.
“I felt like a burden,” Aklima recalls softly. “I was not afraid for myself—I was afraid for my children. I didn’t know how I would feed them the next day.”
Before Coming to Sreepur
Before arriving in Sreepur, Aklima’s days were filled with anxiety and hunger. She often skipped meals so her children could eat. She lived in constant fear of illness, fear of homelessness, fear of an uncertain future.
Her children were undernourished. She had no financial independence, no skill to earn an income, and no emotional support. At such a young age, she carried the weight of survival entirely on her shoulders.
“I used to cry at night when my children were asleep,” she says. “I had no hope. I thought my life was finished.”
A New Beginning in Sreepur
Everything began to change when Aklima found shelter at Sreepur Village.
For the first time in years, she and her children had regular, healthy meals. They received medical treatment, clean clothing, and a safe place to live. But beyond these essentials, Sreepur gave her something even more powerful—opportunity.
Aklima enrolled in skills training programs, learning agriculture and tailoring. Among all the skills she explored, tailoring captured her heart. Sitting at the sewing machine, she felt a sense of purpose returning.
“With every stitch, I feel like I am stitching my broken life back together,” Aklima says with a shy but confident smile.
After Coming to Sreepur
Today, the transformation in Aklima is visible—not only in her improved health but in her eyes, which now carries hope instead of fear.
Her children are healthier and happier. They laugh more. They eat properly. They sleep peacefully. Both are now enrolled in schools, something that felt unimaginable just a year ago. And Aklima stands taller, knowing she is no longer helpless.
She has become skilled and confident in tailoring. She can now cut fabric, design simple garments, and complete orders independently. What once felt impossible now feels within reach.
“I am not the helpless girl who arrived here,” she says. “I am a mother who can stand on her own feet. With tailoring, I can earn, feed my children, and send them to school. I will never depend on anyone again.”
Looking Ahead
Aklima dreams of startin her own small tailoring business after leaving Sreepur Village. She has already begun taking on simple orders within the programme, and each one builds her confidence a little more. She envisions a modest home where her children grow up educated, nourished, and secure.
Her journey is not just about survival—it is about reclaiming dignity.
“When I leave here, I will not be going back to who I was,” she says quietly. “I will be going forward to who I want to be—for my children.”
From abandonment and destitution to confidence and independence, Aklima’s story is a powerful reminder that when a woman is given safety, skills, and support, she does not just rebuild her life—she rebuilds the future for her children.