Rabiul was a partner in a small business making garments. When it closed down, he found himself with no work, no income and no way of paying for food and rent – or supporting Rumi and their baby daughter.
Rumi started to look for a job and approached Swajan. "It was important at that time that I had money for our family. I was looking for a job and that is why I came here. It would have been very difficult without the money that I earn."
After a short training course in appliqué and embroidery, Rumi joined Swajan and has been working there for three years. The flexible arrangements mean that she can look after her family, which is especially important now she has two children.
With Rumi in a steady job, her husband has been able to take out a loan to open a small grocery shop close to where they live. They are steadily paying off the loan and both feel optimistic about the future.
"I opened my grocery shop two years ago," Rabiul said. "It is a new area and the sales at the moment are not enough, although they are improving. But to maintain my family, I need Rumi’s income too."
"I feel very happy and secure working at Swajan," Rumi says. "Now I am thinking of sending my four-year-old daughter to school."
About Swajan
Swajan creates home textiles, handmade paper, cards and stationery, using traditional techniques in appliqué, embroidery, patchwork and mirror work. The majority of producers are women.
Swajan aims to provide high-quality Bangladeshi handicrafts, which can compete in the global marketplace, and to improve the quality of life of its producers in poor urban areas and remote villages.
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