From Tragedy to Hope
Alpona was married at a very young age. Her husband, Babul, worked as a day laborer on others’ land, but his irregular income was insufficient to meet the family’s food needs. Due to poverty, malnutrition, and lack of nutrition awareness, their first child tragically died—an irreversible loss that deeply marked Alpona’s life.
Alpona has two surviving children, and she dreamed of breaking free from poverty and ensuring a healthier future for them. With this hope, she joined a women farmers’ group facilitated by local partner SATHEE. It became the turning point in her life.
Alpona was selected by her group to become a model farmer. She received three days of training on vegetable cultivation, where she gained technical knowledge, practical skills, motivation and confidence. She also received seeds to establish a demonstration garden.
After the training, she gradually transformed her unused homestead yard and surrounding fallow land into productive vegetable gardens. As a result, her family’s daily meals began to change—vegetables became more available, diverse, and nutritious, directly improving household nutrition. Alpona also learned to make vermicompost eliminating th need to buy chemical fertilizers. This has reduced production costs while improving soil fertility and ensuring safe, nutritious food for her family.
Seeing Alpona’s dedication and progress, her husband became a strong supporter of her work. He still works as a day laborer, but he spends his free time helping her. Alpona shares her training knowledge with him, and together they apply improved farming practices in their homestead garden.
After meeting her family’s vegetable needs, Alpona sells surplus production to neighbors, and sometimes her husband takes vegetables to the local market. Her success has drawn attention across the community and farmers from neighboring unions have visited to learn from her experience.
“Now wherever I look, I see vegetable gardens and greenery. I can support my husband and ensure better food for my children. I often regret that I did not receive this training earlier. If I had, my family would not have suffered from food shortages, and I might not have lost my first child.”
Bangladesh Atpara is led by World Renew and local partner Sustainability Approach for The Human Empowerment and Equity Society (SATHEE)