Fifty years ago, Kafiron a 65-year-old woman from Kala village in Chuadanga District married Kheder Ali, a local day laborer. Their early years were very difficult, often without enough food. As time passed, Kheder’s eyesight got worse, making him incapable of continuing his labor. With no other means to sustain themselves, he turned to begging, a fate they endured for three to four years.
In late 2019, their lives took a dramatic turn when they were selected for the ‘Beggar Rehabilitation’ program, a part of the WAVE Foundation’s ENRICH Project. This initiative, managed through the respective UP ward committees, aimed to uplift the most vulnerable. Under this project, Kafiron and Kheder received a cow with a calf, two goats, five pairs of pigeons, a cattle shed, a tube well with a loft for goats, and a house, all worth BDT 1 lakh. The condition was simple yet profound: they must give up begging and become active community members.
From that point, Kafiron and Kheder took charge of their lives. The cow they received blessed them with two calves, and the goats and pigeons multiplied rapidly. They sold one calf for BDT 1.27 lakh, three goats for BDT 23,000, and pigeons for BDT 3,000. With their combined earnings, they purchased approximate13 decimal land and a house for BDT 1.50 lakh. Additionally, they leased 33 decimal of land to cultivate rice and corn twice a year.
Today, their total assets, including two cows, 3 goats, six pairs of pigeons, a plot of land, and 33 decimal of mortgaged land, are valued at approximately BDT 6 lakh. The once-destitute couple now leads a life of dignity and contentment, free from the shackles of poverty and begging.
“WAVE Foundation’s ENRICH Project made our days brighter. Each sale and harvest fill us with gratitude, as it marks our journey towards self-sufficiency with unwavering support”, Kafiron Begum mentioned. The Beggar Rehabilitation Program of WAVE Foundation has provided them with material resources and restored their self-confidence and dignity. Their journey from begging to self-sufficiency is a bright example of what can be achieved with a bit of help and hard work and is a beacon of hope for many in similar circumstances.
