Forty women work hard to make materials that form the women’s hygiene kits, which UNHCR distributes twice a year to refugee women of childbearing age, including underwear and washable sanitary napkins.
They not only make materials for themselves, but also learn new sewing skills. Most of them have also managed to save enough to buy sewing machines and work from home after they graduate from the project.
“This project provides them with work and training,” said Laila Bannu, who works as a community mobilization assistant at the Technical Assistance Foundation, which runs the program with the support of UNHCR.
More than 688,000 refugees have fled to Bangladesh since the outbreak of violence in the Maungdaw district of northern Arakan state six months ago and reported that groups of soldiers and individuals attacked, killed and burned their villages. More than 600 women have benefited from the program since its launch in 2011. It provides participants with training for three months, followed by three months to gain experience at work.
“I had no idea about sewing,” said Anwara Begum, a 30-year-old single mother who fled violence in Myanmar in the early 1990s. My husband left me and I was raising a little girl. This project helped me a lot. I saved enough money to buy my sewing machine and able to work on special requests. The best thing is that I can learn a skill and get money for it and make money myself afterwards. “
During months of work experience, according to their production, women can earn as much as 6,000 taka (US $ 72), enough to help them start their work.
“This business allows me to make money and manage my money,” said 19-year-old Nasima Aktar, who was born in the Nayapara refugee camp. I feel good and I am proud to work here. I bought my own machine and I work at home. I also trained my younger sister to sew. I dream of opening my own lab if you can save enough money. “
UNHCR works around the world with partners such as the Technical Assistance Program to support women in improving their economic status through decent work and in restoring their ability to control their lives. Economic empowerment is one of UNHCR’s five commitments to refugee and displaced women designed to promote gender equality.
The program was developed in Bangladesh mainly to work with women who fled persecution in Myanmar in the 1990s. With the new and large influx of Rohingya refugees since last August, the demand for hygiene products has increased and is expected to rise further.
Work is under way to expand the building to provide more space and employ more women. A similar program is also being expanded in the Kutupalong refugee camp. About 1,200 young women are planned to be trained this year.
Some trained women also work in a sewing factory in the Nayapara refugee camp, run by the Technical Assistance Program and produce custom-made clothes for sale.
