Sumi Khatun, a 32-year-old domestic worker from Char Thana Para village in Kushtia Sadar Upazila, lives with her husband, Mokbular and their four children near the Gorai River. Her husband works as a sand-carrying laborer and together they support their six-member family on a modest and unpredictable daily income.
With the help of a small loan, the family had built a simple tin-shed house and installed a toilet and tubewell. However, the tubewell soon became unusable due to high iron contamination and a strong odor. With no savings to repair it, Sumi spent hours every day collecting water from neighbors, a physically exhausting and often humiliating task. This burden reduced her working hours and eventually forced to give up one of her domestic jobs.
While seeking a solution, Sumi learned about WAVE Foundation’s Water Credit-supported loans, designed to help families access safe water at home. On 25 September 2025, she received a BDT 30,000 (approximately USD 270) loan and reinstalled a safe tubewell. She now repays the loan in weekly installments of BDT 550 and contributes BDT 50 to savings each week, building a small financial buffer for her family.
The impact has been transformative. Sumi no longer depends on others for water and has resumed work in two households, restoring her income. She can now better care for her young daughter while managing her household with dignity. Her school-going sons are healthier and the family faces significantly fewer health risks from contaminated water.
Reflecting on her journey, Sumi shares, “There was a time when collecting water took away my strength, my time and my income. Now, with safe water at home, I have regained control of my day, can earn steadily and live with dignity and confidence.”
