For women, making handicrafts is an important job where they can receive regular income. From this income, many producers and their families’ lives are being supported, allowing them to do such things as having three meals a day, or being able to send their children to school.
It is important to note that these kinds of jobs can be done at home, or close to home, allowing them to do child-rearing and house work as well. At the same time, they are able to utilize such skills as embroidery, weaving, and knitting, which they learned from their mothers, so the work is familiar, and lead them to have more confidence.
“I was able to send my children to school”
Twenty years has passed for Girijani Nakrek since she started producing jute products. She grew up watching her mother do the same work. For seven years, she has also worked as group leader. To the question “What is the best thing that happened because of this job?”, she answers “that I was able to send my children to school. If I were not doing this job, I would not have been able to.”Girijani Nakrek (Bangladesh)
“Because of this job, we were able to stay in this village”
Sita Rani makes hand-woven coasters from Jute. Ten years ago, she lost her husband due to illness, and she was under extreme distress where she could not feed her 4 children. It is very valuable to have a job where one can work during free times of the day, while doing house work and raising children.Sita Rani (Bangladesh)
“My greatest joy is that I can send my two children to school”
The person whom I married when I was 15 was a drug addict, and he abused me and did not work. After my son and daughter were born, in order to earn food money, I reluctantly started prostitution. I learned of a local NGO opening a soap factory for sex workers as an alternative way to earn income, so I went to receive training and started work. My husband participated in a workshop, vowed to stop using violence, and also stopped using drugs. Life is not easy, but it is my greatest joy that I can send my two children to school.Mitu, alias (Bangladesh)
“My greatest joy is that I can send my two children to school”
The person whom I married when I was 15 was a drug addict, and he abused me and did not work. After my son and daughter were born, in order to earn food money, I reluctantly started prostitution. I learned of a local NGO opening a soap factory for sex workers as an alternative way to earn income, so I went to receive training and started work. My husband participated in a workshop, vowed to stop using violence, and also stopped using drugs. Life is not easy, but it is my greatest joy that I can send my two children to school.Mitu, alias (Bangladesh)
“I have the most fun when I am making soap. I can meet new people.”
When I was 17, I married a man from my village whom I loved. I was soon pregnant, then shortly after, my husband disappeared. With no money from my husband, I gave birth alone, and made ends meet by helping with farming and working as a housekeeper. The few times my husband returned, I asked for money to help with living expenses, but he just used violence. From the government and NGO, I borrowed around 12,000 rupees (about 15,000 yen), and with two other friends, started a soap factory. After starting to make soap, many different visitors came to our village. I am happy that I view myself differently now.Durga (Nepal)