Muslima’s story of hardship began to change in January 2020 when she became a member of the ‘Padma Mahila Samiti’, a microcredit initiative under WAVE. With an initial loan of BDT 20,000 she started goat farming, which brought modest profits. Encouraged by this success, she expanded her initiative the next year with a BDT 50,000 loan, steadily repaying her debts while building a small capital base. 

To further improve her family’s financial situation, she and her husband turned their focus to cattle fattening. In 2022, after completing specialized training on cattle rearing through WAVE’s Ujjibito Project, she took out a BDT 200,000 loan to start cattle farming. The venture proved successful, and in July 2024, she expanded her business further with a BDT 400,000 loan. 

Today, her farm is home to four Friesian cows. Her steady income has allowed her to regularly repay loans and significantly improve her living conditions, including constructing a larger home and a hygienic sanitary latrine. Muslimah’s initiative has not only transformed her own life but has also earned her respect within the community as a hardworking entrepreneur. She is now a role model, inspiring other women to follow her path. “If more women like me take such initiatives, they can achieve self-sufficiency and create new employment opportunities as well,” she shares. 

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Despite the improvement in productivity, the farmers were deprived of fair prices due to the lack of a proper marketing system. To solve this problem, Agricultural Service and Agricultural Product Marketing centres were set up at two places in the project areas on a priority basis in 2024; one in Kalikapur village of Golachipa Union and the other in Kismat Haridevpur village of Golkhali Union. 

An agricultural entrepreneur is running each of these centres. The project has provided financial assistance for the construction of houses and the purchase of materials for the centres. The centres are not just places to sell produce but integrated service centres for farmers. Farmers can directly sell their agricultural, fisheries and livestock products at the centres. They also receive fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, agricultural machinery, fish feed, poultry feed and other essentials and exchange views and solutions on agriculture, fisheries and livestock. 

The agricultural marketing centre in Kismat Haridevpur village is receiving positive responses from the community. Wholesalers from different districts of the country buy the betel leaf produced by local farmers from here three days a week. Truckloads of betel leaf are being distributed in different parts of the country, including Dhaka and Sylhet. 

“This centre has given us a fair price and encouraged our production. We can now sell our products directly to wholesalers, which was never imagined before,” said Ali Asgar, a local farmer. Another entrepreneur said, “The farmers are not only selling the produce but also getting the necessary materials easily from the centre. This has boosted the confidence of the farmers.” 

These centres are not just a marketing platform but a successful model for improving the rural economy and livelihood of farmers. They have opened a new horizon for the farmers, who are getting a fair price for their produce. 

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The main goal of the ACT project is to reduce disaster risk and raise awareness among the people, to make the Union Disaster Management Committee and youth members skilled through training, as well as to increase the general people of the community with the necessary practical skills in dealing with disasters.  

In 2024, disaster management training was conducted in 10 batches in the vulnerable areas of Bakerganj. There were 30 participants in each group. A total of 300 participants, including 130 women and 170 men, have been trained in all batches. Participants were given a clear understanding of the nature of the disaster and the identification of local risks, how to use the resources and capabilities within the community to deal with the disaster, how to take action according to the level of the cyclone warning signal, and what to do before and after the disaster.  

After the training, Nurjahan Begum, one of the participants, said, “Earlier, we didn’t know what to do when we heard the warning signal. I learned how to prepare for this training. Now I know how to get my family to safety.” Similarly, Arif Hossain, a youth member of the community said, “The knowledge gained from this training will not only benefit me but everyone in the society. I learned how to lead and help others in times of crisis.”  

These trainings of the ACT project are a well-organized effort not only to reduce risks, but also to save human lives. Participants are able to play an important role for themselves and their community. Such initiatives are making the local community more confident and on the path to a safe and sustainable future. 

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On March 26, 2024, she visited Matiar’s house to demand the total dues of BDT 65,000. To her shock, he not only refused to pay but outright denied the existence of any contract. Feeling helpless, she sought assistance from the local ward member, who attempted to mediate the matter but was unsuccessful.  

Unsure of what to do, she was looking for further support. Right then, she came to know about WAVE Foundation, which has been working to raise awareness about access to justice through its “Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh” (AVCB) project. With their guidance, she learned about her right to seek legal recourse. Encouraged by WAVE’s support, she decided to take action. 

On April 16, 2024, with guidance from WAVE, she lodged a civil case with the Sukhpukuria Union Parishad Village Court by paying a nominal fee of BDT 20. The Union Parishad Chairman, under Rule 31 of the Village Courts Rules, accepted the case. Within just two weeks, on April 30, 2024, the Village Court resolved the matter, ordering Matiar to pay the full amount of BDT 65,000 owed to her. The amount was recovered and handed over to her promptly. 

Expressing her satisfaction, she shared, “I am very happy to get my contract money of BDT 65,000 through the Village Court within seven days. I only spent BDT 50, including fees and transportation costs. I didn’t know about the Village Court before, or I could have resolved this issue earlier. It is an excellent system that provides justice locally with minimal cost, time, and hassle.”  

Morzina plans to use the recovered money to buy a cow to support her family. She emphasized that she holds no grudge against Matiar and is relieved the matter has been peacefully resolved. 

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The workshop was organized as part of CIVICUS Global Perspectives 2024 and made the participants more efficient and confident by acquiring the necessary skills to combat misinformation in the digital age. More than 30 participants, including students of different public and private universities of the country, civil society members and representatives of voluntary organizations, took part in the workshop.  

Fact-checking expert Shubhashish Dip of Fact Watch Bangladesh conducted the workshop. The workshop discussed various sources of misinformation such as text, images, videos and AI-generated content. Participants learned about tools such as reverse image search and AI video detectors. In the workshop, the participants were given hands-on practice to verify the information immediately.  

“This training changed my approach to online content,” said a participants Sumaiya Akhter, a student from Eden Mohila College. “I am now more confident in tackling misinformation and developing responsible online behaviour.”  

The workshop discussed the social impact of misinformation, such as hate speech and stereotyping. By learing various methods, including lateral reading and prebunking techniques, participants are made proficient in critical analysis abilities and prevention of misinformation.  

“I have learned some strategies that will help not only me, but also my community, deal with misinformation,” said Arif Hossain, a member of the Youth Policy Forum. “This initiative is very important to build a conscious society.”  

The workshop concluded with an interesting quiz competition and certificate distribution ceremony. Youth Assembly and WAVE Foundation will continue to organize such workshops to counter rumours and misinformation across the country.

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Mohsin Ali, founder and executive director of WAVE Foundation, attended the symposium as an honored panelist. He discussed in detail the challenges, achievements and future direction of women’s political participation in the context of Bangladesh. Besides, Sanaiyya Faheem Ansari, researcher and prominent gender consultant presented the results of the study conducted on the basis of data collected from 12 districts of the country on behalf of WAVE. 

In the symposium, Mohsin Ali handed over an embedded report prepared on the basis of the information and results obtained from the research to the concerned stakeholders. Later, he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coalition for Women in Politics to establish a regional network for women’s political participation. In addition, the participants, who participated directly and virtually, discussed various aspects of women’s inclusion in politics, empowerment and regional cooperation.  

WAVE Foundation is implementing the ‘Building a Regional Network on Gender Inclusion in Political Participation’ project in collaboration with The Asia Foundation. The project seeks to identify and address cultural and socio-economic barriers to women’s political empowerment. 

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Since 1993, WAVE Foundation has been implementing major agricultural programs across various districts, focusing on crops, livestock, and fisheries. In 2010, the organization began developing a center on 10 acres of land in Koshaghata, Chuadanga, to train and establish farms and demonstration plots. Initially known as the Center for Development and Capacity (CDC), it was officially renamed as Go Green Center on February 6, 2024. The center’s ongoing activities include an integrated agriculture unit (crops, livestock, and fisheries), a Black Bengal Goat Breeding Farm, a Fish Farm, a Dumba Breeding Farm, various vegetable demonstration plots, and a seed storage facility.

The Black Bengal goat breeding farm, started in 2010 with 30 goats, now houses over 200 goats. This farm, along with around 300 family farms, produces and sells goats through the Goat Mart. The Dumba breeding farm, initiated in 2018, has successfully adapted to the local climate, with 21 Dumba currently being raised and sold, generating significant income. The fish farm employs semi-intensive carp fattening methods in three ponds, producing large fish for the market. Additionally, the center educates beneficiaries on profitable fish farming techniques. The vegetable demonstration plots at the center test and showcase eco-friendly farming techniques, training farmers on safe, chemical-free practices to promote agroecology and sustainable vegetable cultivation for safer food production. The seed storage facility, the only frozen storage for onion seeds in Bangladesh, supplies high-quality seeds year-round, promoting modern and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. The Go Green Center is committed to continue its crucial role in promoting agroecology and safe food, contributing significantly to local agricultural sustainability and national development goals.

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Since 2015, Youth Assembly has been contributing to sustainable socio-economic development through campaigns, policy advocacy and various activities related to climate issues alongside education, employment, and skill development for the youth. The initiatives for this year’s World Environment Day aimed to build a green and sustainable planet. The youth are determined to unite in reducing the risks of climate change and protecting the environment.

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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.

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