Nandi - Bangladesh.

SHARE THIS STORY DOWNLOAD PDF A Stitch in Time ‘I cried and hide myself at home for at least one week from my friends and relatives when my father asked me not to go to school anymore.’ Nandi* was a good student and loved her studies but the family could not afford to let her study and she had to drop out of school. Trapped As with so many in villages in north-west Bangladesh there were very few options. Nandi was then married into another poor family – the gruelling cycle of poverty seemed inescapable. ‘My husband used to make baskets and other handicrafts from bamboos,’ she shares. ‘Income from his business was very limited and we hardly ate twice a day. My father-in-law was sick for a long time and we could not give him good treatment and proper diet. Finally he died without proper treatment and medication. I will never ever forget those miserable days.’ Breaking the cycle Nandi was desperate to earn extra income and heard about an organisation working in the area. LAMB Hospital works in the north-west of Bangladesh, where over half the population lives in poverty. Working through the local church they show Christ’s love to all as they strengthen and equip communities. Nandi was delighted to be selected by LAMB to join a six-month tailoring course. After successfully completing the training, she was given a sewing machine. With her husband’s help Nandi opened a small tailoring shop at her home and threw herself into the business. She soon became a well respected tailor and has seen the family income increase considerably. Passing it on ‘Now I am much happier than ever and eat three times in a day, my children go to school on a regular basis and my husband is busy with his traditional basket-making occupation,’ she says with a smile. Young girls and women from her community come to learn tailoring from Nandi and she gladly trains them. ‘I do not take money for the training,’ she shares, ‘as I learned from the Bible. In Matthew 10:8 Jesus said “Freely you have received freely give”.’ The student has flourished and is now the teacher – passing on the gift she received. * Name changed to protect identity PLEASE PRAY Give thanks that Nandi was given an opportunity to unlock her gifts and begin a great business. Pray that it will continue to prosper. Pray for her as she reaches out to others in her community and generously trains them. Pray for Tearfund’s partner LAMB as they work to empower more people with skills and opportunities. A note from... 'Bangladesh is poor and vulnerable to natural and manmade disasters. Gender discrimination and gender-based violence is high, especially in rural areas. But Nandi has risen above this to give herself and her community a better future. Thank you for praying and encouraging her and others like her.' Patrick Palma Capacity Building Adviser in Bangladesh, Tearfund.