Shema's story

Child bride to community activist

Born into a poor family in a small village in Bangladesh, Shema faced hunger every day. Shema’s family struggled to feed her, so poverty and local custom caused them to marry her at just 13 years of age.

“As I was married off at an early age and was illiterate, I always remained shy. I couldn’t talk with others. On top of this, my husband had no work, spent time with bad people in the village and was always drinking alcohol. We argued constantly. There was no peace in my family.”

As they had little income, Shema and her husband lived in temporary housing on government land, and after a few years, Shema gave birth to a daughter. Feeling isolated and alone, with her marriage still strained, she worried about how she would provide for herself and her child.

Then, in 2005, FH formed a learning and savings group in Shema’s village, and Shema, still only just a teenager, joined and was elected to serve as the group Chairperson. In her group (named Lata, or vine) she took part in special leadership development training so that she could be an effective leader for her group.

Shema’s life was starting to change, as she learnt how to read and write and met with her group every week to explore and learn new information and values which would protect and strengthen her family. But Shema’s husband still rarely saw his daughter and squandered the little money they had on alcohol.

Shema’s FH group mentor regularly started to visit Shema’s home to meet with Shema and her husband. He sat with them and encouraged them to talk and value each other’s contributions and opinions. He encouraged them to be kind to each other and take care of their daughter. Gradually Shema’s marriage improved, so much so that together, Shema and her husband decided to open a tea stall in their village.

In her group each week Shema saved 10 taka and was able to take a loan of 4,000 taka out of the combined group savings to set up her new stall, and now Shema and her husband work side by side every day. Her husband no longer stays out at night, but comes home to spend time with his daughter. Shema says,

“Now my husband earns around 200 taka every day from the tea stall. He always encourages me to keep working in my group and in the community. My husband has also started a fire wood business with the earnings from our tea stall. He supports our daughter’s school expenses.”

Shema is not only busy in her group, but also serves as the secretary of her local Community organisation named Danika. Danika comprises all 55 FH groups in the area. Every year at the annual meeting, Shema stands confidently in front of hundreds of other group members and leaders and reports on the progress of Danika.

Shema has come a long way from being a shy and vulnerable housewife. “I can communicate with others,” she says proudly.

Shema’s story is an inspiration to other women like her in the community as she strives to help the poor and vulnerable in her community;

“I will stand as a candidate in the coming Union election and if I am elected, I will stand by the helpless.”