An Initiative for Better Home4BetterLife

Sundarbans mangrove forest is a blessing for the people of this region. The forest protects the local community from several disasters and also provide livelihood opportunities to the coastal people. This region is also known for its vulnerability due to climate change. This region is highly vulnerable to natural disaster due to its geographic location and people of this region live below the poverty line. It is very difficult for them to live in this high saline area. In this area, it is difficult to grow crops and most of them depend on Sundarbans resources for their livelihood. As a result, they are harvesting Sundarbans resources illegally. The women even collect viable mangrove seeds and used them for cooking fuel. By doing this, they are destroying thousands of mangrove seeds which creates great loss in the mangrove ecosystem. In this area, most of the women are engaged in fish fry collection from the river adjacent to the Sundarbans. They put their life in danger to live their livelihood and are trying heart and soul to come from the cycle of poverty.

Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) has been working since 2013 for the betterment of the people of Sundarbans coastal region as well as mangrove ecosystem restoration. BEDS has taken an initiative of Rural Reconstruction and Ecosystem Restoration in the Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh by the name of “BANOJIBI” in terms livelihoods and mangrove ecosystem conservation. BANOJIBI is a Bengali Word, meaning the people whose livelihoods depend on the forests’ resources. The targeted BANOJIBI are mostly Sundarbans resource harvesters and coastal marginal farmers. The Sundarbans Resources Harvesters Cooperative Society Limited has formed with 265 members from various occupations in the Sundarbans coastal areas under BANOJIBI. BEDS trained the local people on different mangrove-based product production, processing, packaging and marketing of the product. Now they are developing different mangrove-based products, local traditional products and marketing them through BANOJIBI. Now they are getting much benefit from the products. Local women of this region have become empower from this BANOJIBI.

BEDS has supported 265 families. But there are lots of vulnerable women who needs the support. So, it’s a heartiest appeal to all the donors for being kind to help those vulnerable women to give them a chance to come out from the cycle of poverty and lead a respectful life.

We are requesting all our donors to start monthly recurring donation. Please click the following link; https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/changing-life-by-empowering-women/?show=recurring