The COVID-19 pandemic associated with the countrywide lockdown drives Hamida Begum to extreme poverty.
Ms. Hamida Begum (42), a former beneficiary of USAID’s CREL Project and a divorced woman, found it difficult to survive during the countrywide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. USAID’s ECO LIFE Activity, which started one month after the imposed lockdown, comes up with stimulus support for destitute people like Ms. Hamida. Under this project, NACOM provided her with refresher training and input support, tailoring female and children’s clothes. She also received training and material support for poultry rearing.
With the training and material support, she is now involved in making dresses for her neighboring women and children. Also, during the peak of the COVID infection, she made face masks and sold it to local people. She is earning per month around BDT 2,500-3,000 from tailoring, and BDT 1,000-1,200 from selling eggs, and also charges BDT 4,000 per person for providing training on tailoring techniques.
Ms. Hamida Begum said, “I received unexpected support from USAID during the COVID-19 period. I used the support to make myself self-resilient, and in the future, I plan to establish a permanent shop and employ destitute women like me.”