STARS Foundation

Meet Lipi Begum

Lipi Begum is 28 years old and lives in Paddabil village, in Chuadanga district. Her financial condition was not sound and the income of her husband Md. Moksed Ali was very low. Over a year ago, she tried to take a loan from a credit organisation to start a new activity and find an alternative source of income. As the interest rate offered was high, she decided it might not be such a good idea after all.

Lipi Begum felt inspired by the Mothers’ Club initiatives that were being supported by Impact Foundation Bangladesh (IFB) near her village. She decided to become a member of the the Gopinathpur Schoolpara Mothers’ Club. She attended every meeting session and in May 2011 received training on homestead gardening from members of IFB. This gave her the opportunity to learn how to use in a productive way the spare space surrounding her house. She soon realised she could easily earn additional money by growing and selling vegetables at the courtyard and took the initiative to prepare the beds for sowing seeds. Once the ground work for the home garden was done, she contacted the president of the Mothers’ Club and field worker of IFB to receive seeds/saplings and a fence. After receiving these, her home garden was finally established.

At present, Lipi feels like her home garden has been a blessing to her family. “Now, I don’t need to think of getting a loan at a high interest rate from a village usurer. I’m free from all sorts of anxiety and leading a happy life with my family. And all credit goes to IFB. It is them who helped me become financially solvent using my own resources and labor”, says Lipi Begum with shining eyes.

Now Lipi Begum grows vegetable and her husband sells them at the local market. In a month, they are earning an additional 900 to 1100 Bangladeshi Taka (the equivalent of £7 to £8.50). Lipi has an 8 year old son studying in class two. Her hope is to give him access to good quality education so he can enjoy a better life. The family has no more financial difficulties; they are even saving money for the future. Neighbours often come to Lipi for advice. “I am now socially empowered. I know my rights as a human being. Now I realise I have the right to vote and I have learnt many important things related to primary health care, hygiene, nutrition, sanitation etc. from IFB. I always try to convince destitute ladies to become members of IFB’s Mothers Club”, says Lipi Begum.