Shiuily Besra, from Faridabad village in Betdighee Union, Phulbari Upazila, Dinajpur District, is married to Bishu Murmu. Her mother is Bahamoni Soren. She has two sons; one son attends school and is in Class 1, and the other has not yet started school.

In her husband’s family, they only possess two tin-roofed mud houses on 0.03 acres of land and no other assets. Due to poverty, Shiuily Besra works as a day laborer on other people’s land, but this work is only available for 30 to 35 days a year. For the rest of the time, she has to remain idle, lacking any alternative source of income. Her husband, Bishu Murmu, works as a bicycle mechanic in the village during other times, and the meager income they earn makes it very difficult for them to get by.

One day, at a BASIC organization courtyard meeting (Utthan Boithok), she learned from Field Organizer Kalpana Marandi that the BASIC organization helps women become self-reliant through various subject-based programs, such as computer training, tailoring, goat rearing, duck/chicken farming, cattle rearing, vegetable cultivation in the home yard, and mushroom cultivation. Additionally, they facilitate communication with the Directorate of Youth Development for advanced training.

Hearing all this, Shiuily Besra said, “Sister, I have dreamed of learning sewing since I was a child. But where will I learn, who will teach me, and where will I get the money? I can’t even provide daily food for my children in my poor family.”

Hearing her story, Kalpana replied, “I will inform the Executive Director about your life story. He is trying to select 10 such enthusiastic women who will receive three months of tailoring training free of charge and will also receive a free sewing machine upon completion of the training. They will use this sewing machine in the future to change their lives, increase their family’s income, and establish a unique example of social change.”

Shiuily Besra was selected for the sewing training program. The day Kalpana gave her the news, she was so happy that tears streamed down her face. She said, “Sister, I am grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to change my life.” In this way, Shiuily Besra received training from the BASIC organization and, with the support of the Bangladesh NGO Foundation, received the free sewing machine. She has since changed her family’s financial situation and is now able to afford the expenses for her children’s education with her own earnings.