Immerse yourself in a compelling case discussion that highlights how skill training opportunities can effectively combat poverty. Explore the transformative power of acquiring new skills as individuals break free from the cycle of poverty and gain access to better livelihoods. Witness firsthand the positive impact of skill training programs in empowering individuals to secure sustainable employment and improve their economic well-being. Engage in a thought-provoking conversation that explores real-life success stories, examines the challenges faced, and delves into the long-term benefits of skill training in poverty alleviation. Discover the potential of skill training as a catalyst for positive change and socio-economic empowerment in this inspiring case discussion.“Conventionally, people think that man should be the earning agent of each family. By bringing myself out of the conventional thought, I am contributing to my family’s well-being as an active earning member”-said Santona Khatun, 21 years of age, who is a participant in the Garments Research Project which was being funded by the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) & International Development Research Centre (IDRC). This was an Experimental intervention, carried out by Dr. Abu Shonchoy, Dr. Selim Raihan & Dr.Tomoki Fujji. The intervention was aimed to explain the labor market dynamics and the associated growth and poverty-reduction linkages in Bangladesh. Santona Khatun is the eldest child of her parents who lives with her family in Uttar Bekatari the village, the village of Gaibandha district. Her father is a small trader who sells vegetables and other goods in different areas of the community. Before joining the job, her father was only the earning member of the family who earned around five thousand BDT monthly. She is also a degree final-year student studying at Sundargonj Degree College. She witnessed herself in abject poverty since her father was in trouble supporting an eight-member family properly on his insufficient income. She wanted to be demonstrative but had to keep herself withdrawn from participating in social events. The family also felt the hesitation to participate in social events. Desperately, she was looking for a job but wanted to continue her study also. In the meantime, she passed the SSC and admitted herself into a college. Due to poverty, She had to stop her study in 1st year of college. But she couldn’t lose her hope to continue the study. Passionately, she was looking for something that could assist her to introduce with somewhat like skill training, and all of a sudden she got a chance to be trained in sewing by Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK) under the Garments Research Project. She was randomly selected for the 4th treatment group; a group that provided training, a stipend, and a month-long paid internship in a factory. As per the study principle, she was taken to Dhaka immediately after the completion of 22 days of residential training on sewing and was given an internship opportunity in an apparel factory. After satisfactory performance during the internship, she was promoted later to a sewing machine operator in the same factory. She earned some money during the probation period and returned to the village after six months of working. She resumed her study and passed the HSC. She got admission into the college for higher education. She was drawing down her savings. She bought a sewing machine from her deposited money and started tailoring in the village. She stayed almost one and a half years in the village but all the effort to get rid of poverty seemed ineffectual.
She went to Dhaka again using a referral and joined as Quality Inspector in another apparel factory. Since 2015, she has been working as a Quality Inspector and is earning around 12,000 BDT each month. Now she is making a financial contribution to her family by remitting monthly 6,000 BDT. She is happy now and feels honored to be part of the income-generating members of the family. Her family has already overcome the initial suffering from poverty. She is also making her educational expense on her own and has a cherished aspiration to see her family in higher status. She wants to get married after the completion of her graduation by family choices.