For 24-year-old Mukta Begum, a mother of two from Muslimpara village in Bakerganj, Barishal, life took a difficult turn when river erosion forced her family to leave their homestead in Narangal village. She relocated with her husband, an auto-rickshaw driver, and their two daughters, seeking a safer place to rebuild their lives. Mukta now lives near the Tulatoli River, where cyclones, tidal surges and further erosion remain constant threats. With limited household income and frequent climate risks, building a secure future for her family was a daily challenge.
Mukta’s journey began to change through WAVE Foundation’s “Strengthening Community Preparedness, Rapid Response and Recovery in Bangladesh” project, which provided her with alternative livelihood support. She received practical training on poultry rearing from the Upazila Livestock Department along with a start-up grant of BDT 10,000. Following her business plan, Mukta invested around BDT 8,000 to purchase 20 ducks and 20 hens while reserving the remaining BDT 2,000 for poultry feed and other essential inputs. She immediately started her poultry farming enterprise to create an additional, sustainable source of income for her family.
Although still in its early stages, the initiative has already begun to improve the family’s economic resilience. By reducing dependence on a single household income, poultry farming has strengthened their ability to cope with climate-related shocks and better protect their household assets during disasters. Sharing her experience, Mukta said, “This support has given me a new opportunity to earn an income. I want to expand my poultry farm so that I can support my family financially. I will also use this income to prepare for cyclones and keep my family safe during disasters.” Her determination reflects the confidence that can grow when vulnerable women are equipped with the right skills, resources and opportunities.
Looking ahead, Mukta plans to gradually increase the number of ducks and chickens by reinvesting the income earned from egg and poultry sales. Her dream is to establish a larger poultry farm that will provide a stable and reliable source of income while helping her family overcome poverty and climate vulnerability. Through this project, WAVE is empowering climate-affected women like Mukta to rebuild their lives with dignity, strengthen disaster preparedness and create resilient livelihoods that offer hope for a safer and more sustainable future.
