Eti's story

From domestic abuse to business success

Married at the age of 9, Eti had to give up her education without being able to discover her capabilities and potential. She lived in poverty and was abused every day by her alcoholic husband and mother-in law. The situation became so severe that Eti’s parents sought to end the marriage and take her home.

However in 2003 Food for the Hungry started working in Eti’s community, and she joined the Doel learning and savings group. Eti fi nally received the support and skills she needed to transform her life.

While Eti’s skills and abilities were improving, her marriage was still in trouble. Concerned for her well being, one of our staff invited Eti and her husband to attend a marriage support day. Eti’s husband agreed, and together they learned about how to develop a caring relationship.

They learned to value each other as equal partners, to respect each other’s opinion, and to appreciate each other’s contributions to the family. Eti’s husband took these lessons to heart, which started a remarkable change in his life, including an end to his alcoholism.

“Not long ago I thought that women were just supposed to keep home, and were only meant to carry out the orders of their husbands. Now I see there is much more."

In her group Eti continued to learn new skills such as tailoring, block-boutique printing, and hairdressing. With the help of a loan from her group, she was eventually able to buy a sewing machine and start-up materials for a beauty parlour.

She began her own tailoring and beauty parlour business out of her home, and now earns an additional 1000 taka a month to support her family! Eti feels satisfaction from being able to contribute to her family in a new way, and is fi nally happy in her marriage and family life.

"I am no longer limited to the four walls around me. I am a successful woman. I feel dignity now in my family and in society, and I thank Food for the Hungry for this.”