Slum women in Khulna city are becoming self-reliant through technical and vocational training programs, enabling them to overcome social barriers, start businesses, and contribute to their families' financial stability.
A total of 3,575 women living in the slums of Khulna city are gradually moving from uncertainty and hardship toward dignity, skills, and economic independence. Through technical and vocational training, they are also transforming their lives, contributing to their families, and emerging as confident entrepreneurs.
Many of these women were once trapped in poverty, unemployment, and social vulnerability. With training in tailoring, beautification, and food production, they are now generating income, supporting their families, and creating hope for a better future for their children.
Twenty-eight-year-old Lovely Khatun, a resident of the West Baniakhamar slum in Ward No. 27 of Khulna City Corporation, shared her story of struggle and transformation. She lives in a small rented house with her husband, their four-year-old son, and her elderly in-laws. Her husband and father-in-law work as daily wage labourers, but their work is irregular and unpredictable.
Lovely herself was unskilled and unemployed. After undergoing foot surgery, she could not stand or walk for long periods, making manual work impossible. Life was filled with uncertainty and anxiety as she worried about how her family would survive.
Her life began to change in 2024 when she joined the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme of World Vision Bangladesh. Through the training, she gained skills in tailoring along with confidence and a sense of dignity.
Without any savings, she took a loan of Tk 31,000 from a cooperative and bought her first electric sewing machine. In September 2025, she started a small tailoring business from home, turning a corner of her modest house into a workshop.
Lovely now has around 12 regular customers and has completed orders for more than 40 clients who appreciate the quality of her work. Her monthly income ranges from Tk 8,000 to Tk 10,000. The steady income allows her to provide nutritious food for her family and support her child’s education. She also hopes to train other women in the future and empower them through skills.
“I dream that my son will become a doctor one day and treat poor people free of charge,” she said.
Like Lovely, thousands of women in 31 wards of Khulna City Corporation have benefited from a project providing technical and vocational education and training.
Panna Akhter Putul, a divorced mother from Ward 18, also found new hope through the programme. Her six-year-old son suffered a serious head injury after falling at the age of two and has since been confined to a wheelchair. For years, she struggled with worry about her child’s future.
Last year, she received beautification training and later took a small loan from an NGO to start a beauty parlour. She now earns between Tk 8,000 and Tk 10,000 per month, which helps her provide better care and support for her child.
Rowza Islam, a second-year student at Joybangla College in Darussalam Mohalla, also faced financial pressure when the main earner of her family became unemployed. As the eldest child, she felt responsible for supporting her family and continuing her education.
She completed a 54-day training course in food production last year and started preparing homemade food from home and selling it online. Her small business is gradually gaining customers and bringing smiles back to her family.
Athai Rahman Rakhi, who passed HSC from Sundarban College and is waiting for admission to Honours, also joined food production training. After learning how to prepare around 70 dishes, she now cooks at home and sells food online while delivering the orders herself. Her family has been encouraging her efforts.
Babli Akhter of Hatem Ali Road also struggled with poverty as her husband’s daily wage income was not enough to support the family. Concerned about the future of her two daughters, she received training in beautification and opened a small beauty parlour in her rented house. She has already built a good reputation in the neighbourhood and helps ease the financial burden on her family.
Pradipta CBO President Pratibha Mistry said the initiative is helping improve the quality of life for women by empowering them to participate in family decision-making, save money, and become financially independent.
Suravi Biswas, Manager of Khulna City Area Program-2 of World Vision Bangladesh, said the programme identifies unemployed youth, provides skill development training and career counselling, builds linkages with organisations for job opportunities, encourages entrepreneurship, and offers post-training support and monitoring to ensure sustainable livelihoods.