Anando (Joy) is a female learning and saving group of FH in Dhunot, Bogra. Among 15 female members, 8 of them took loans from their group and used this money in various income generation activities. For example, the cashier of the group, Rokeya took 3,000tk loan and bought rice seeds for cultivation. She had a very great harvest this year and she is very happy about it.

The group is also participating in their CBO ( Community Based Organization). The member of the group are conducting their regular works and group meetings all by themselves. Group President Sheuli says,“our group members have the unity and we help each other in our problems”.

After receiving the leadership development training of FH, Maloti Rani started leading “Somota” ( Equity) female group. She leads her group by managing weekly group meeting and helps the group members to take the right decisions. She also manages the documents of the group.

Maloti Rani says, “I make sure that everybody is attending the weekly group meetings regularly and also encourage others to become a member of our group. I also discuss about the problems we are facing and how to solve it in our group meetings. I regularly write resolutions, prepare monthly plans and try to implement them as much as possible. I want this group to become a model for others groups in the community. I hope I could lead the CBO (Community Based Organization) in future.”

Kulsum Begum is a member of Allor Shikha ( Flame of Light) female group. She took 5,000 tk loan from her group and bought two goats using that money. Within few months the number of goats tripled. She sold two goats to pay the tuition fee for her daughter and she also returned the loan money. Now She has four goats and the market price of them are 15,000 tk. She expects to earn more profit by the selling the goats in the market.

Kulsum says,“ If I did not join the FH group, I could not able to get any loan. By following the advice of my group members, I have increased my income. Poverty of my family has been reduced and I can also pay for my daughter’s education. I want to thank FH for making it possible.”

Inspired by the members of her group, Abiron a member of “ Surjomuki”    (Sunflower) saving group, took a personal loan of 1000tk to grow corn in her field. She used this money for buying corn seeds. This year she has a very good harvest. She is very happy right now.

Abiron says, “I have a very good harvest this year. By selling the corns I can meet up my family needs and also able to grow jute for next year. ”

Before joining Mohona Female Group of FH, Fatema did not have any knowledge of health and sanitation. Later she received health-care training as she was selected health leader of the group.

After receiving FH primary health care training, Fatima started giving health care facilities to her group members. Later she took midwife training from the local health complex and now she provides health care facilities to the pregnant women of her community. In group meeting she also teaches basic health awareness lessons such as cutting nails, brushing teeth, washing hands or using sanitary toilets etc.

Fatema says, “with the help of FH, I had received midwifery training from Government hospital. Now I take care of the pregnant women by routine check-up, health advice. In emergency situations, I also take them to the hospital. As I am also a member of DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) committee, I also help them in disaster situation. In future I will continue serving the people of my community”

Tajnur Begum runs her own restaurant and she is a member of Shapla ( Water Lily) female group. She took a loan from her group to open a small restaurant in the local market. Now she and her husband work together in their restaurant and they earn enough money to manage their family.

Tajnur says,“ I received advice from a FH staff about how to become economically independent and decided to start a small restaurant in the local market. My husband agreed with me and we took a loan of 13,000 tk from Shapla saving group. Now we have our own restaurant. Everyday I cook rice, fish, vegetables and sell them. My husband also helps me with the work. We can earn enough money for our family and we are living a happy life.”

Shaina is a member of Dip (light) female group. She took 5000 tk loan from her group and bought a cow. Now she has a calf with the cow and after taking care of the calf for 11 months the market price of the calf is 10,000 tk.

She also makes bamboo mats and sells them in the market to help he husband with the family expenses. She spends the money for the education of her son.

Shaina says, “by participating in the saving group, we can increase our capital. In this group we learned about values. Even if we face any problem in our family, me and my husband try to solve it together. I dream to provide my son a good life. ”

Shiri is a member of Shimul female group. She and her husband were passing their days through sufferings because they could not earn enough to feed the family. They wanted to extend their rice selling business but could not do it for lack of fund. Later they took a loan of 25,000 tk from the group and started extending their business.

Now they earn around 8,000-9,000 tk each month. The total capital of their business has reached 250,000 tk. They use their monthly income for their children’s education and also for paying their loan installments.

“Before we had to take loan from money lenders on high interest rate, but now we can take loan from the group and help each other in crisis situation”, she says. Shiri is a inspiration for the other members of her group. She dreams to make her group stronger and united.

Geta Rani was frustrated with her life after her husband death. As her husband was the only earning member of her family, she was worried about how she will be able to manage the expenses. When FH started it’s program in her community, she joined the Rainbow saving group. She took 5000tk loan from the group and bought a cow with that money. Now she has one cow with a calf and she sells the milk in the market. She helps her son with the monthly expense.

Geta said, “My cow gives 4 liters milk everyday. By selling milk I earn 2700 tk monthly. I use the money to pay the monthly loan installment and pay the daily expenses of my family. I am living a happy life with my family”.

Shuniti Rani is a house wife. She was not involved with any income generation activity before. Her husband would not earn enough to feed all of the family members. Shuniti and her family were passing their days starving. When FH started it’s program in her community, Shuniti joined the “ Ujjol” (Bright) women group. She took a loan of 4,000 tk and make a vegetable garden on the spare land of her house. Shuniti said that, ” I earn around 1000 tk weekly by selling the vegetables in the market. Now I can help my husband financially”.