Symbiosis International

Symbiosis Bangladesh is an organization that works in rural Bangladesh, in 12 of the 64 districts of the country. Support for the basic technical training and low skilled jobs information program (TTIS) is a project of Symbiosis that works within Symbiosis working area. TTIS Project enhances the skills of the marginalized community to make them competent in the jobs market with higher income. One of the aims of this project is to inform the participants about availability of jobs. Following is the story of Asma who was able to change her living standard by TTIS project.

Asma was born in the slum area near rail line area in Mymensingh sadar. She is now 18. Her father is a vegetable seller. His income was too little to meet the family expense. Asma is the eldest and she has one brother and a sister. Due to the poverty Asma's father arranged marriage when she was only 14. Her husband was unemployed and poor too. Asma became very frustrated and was struggling with her married life. At this time she became pregnant and gives birth. She fell into an enormous problem because her husband was not able to arrange sufficient food for her and for their child.

One day she heard about Symbiosis and learned about Symbiosis work from one of our group member. Later she came to us and joined into our four months sewing training program. After four months she successfully completed the training. Our trainer found that her sewing skill is quite impressive then other trainees and also she is a quick learner. After this training she showed her interest to buy a sewing machine and informed us that she had no ability to buy a sewing machine besides she also shared all her problems with us.

By giving importance to the need and the skill allowed her to receive interest free loan in order to buy a sewing machine. She starts working with that machine in her house. She begins to receive order from the local people and found that the income from those order is sufficient to support her family. She was very regular to the installment against her loan that she received from us. Her present income is now about Tk. 150 to Tk. 200. She is now empowered and self reliant.

Now she again admitted into our Block Batik training and wanted to become more successful after this training. Without participate the training program she also joined into our awareness class that organized by the project. Now she feels empowered and aware of important issue such as health including child health, social and women rights issue.  

She like to give thanks to symbiosis and TTIS project because TTIS program is helping and supporting women through various income generative training to become self reliant.