Fatima become landless because of the river erosion in their area. She and her husband Rashidul lived in a Char land (fallow land in the river that rises when the water level decreases) of Jaldhaka Upazila, Nilphamari. Before losing the land in river erosion, their life was not so easy. They did not have a good source of income by which they could fulfill their basic needs. With two children their helplessness was beyond boundaries. After losing everything, they moved to another union Kazipara of Jaldhaka Upazila.
In Kazipara, Fatima, and Rashidul started living by establishing a small hut. Rashidul starts his livelihood like before as a day laborer. After being the resident there, they become a PPEPP-EU project’s PVC (Prosperity Village Committee) member.
‘We were lost. We could not see a single ray of hope anywhere. PPEPP-EU-Project’s PVC meeting shared a lot of information on the availabilities of government resources by which our quality of life improved. I became informed about the government’s agricultural support in there.’ Said Fatima. However, this couple did not stop dreaming about a better future after this attainment.
From PVC meeting they got the idea of establishing a homestead garden that can fulfill the need for the nutrition of the family members and at the same time an earning source also. The couple received financial support from PPEPP-EU to build up a homestead garden in their courtyard.
‘But the PPEPP-EU project did not limit its support within the financing. They linked us with the local office of Upazila Agriculture office which was crucial also.’ Said Rashidul. ‘The linkage’ Rashidul mentioned is a vital support of PPEPP-EU provided by the Community Mobilisation component. With the initiation SHARP, the local implementing partner of PPEPP-EU, the upazila Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer visited and joined the advocacy meeting of PVC and discussed overall homestead gardening with the members. Then through advocacy and linkage with the local agricultural office, all 22 members started homestead gardening in their courtyard.
Now, members are selling surplus vegetables in the market to meet their family’s nutritional needs. They are educating their children, and achieving prosperity. In 2023 this couple made thirteen thousand taka in a year as profit. With this profit, Fatima bought a goat and received two goats from PPEPP-EU project. Now the number reached six. Fatima and Rashidul now spending busy days with their new venture by cultivating ground nuts. They are expecting a good ground nut production this year. And also dream of expanding the homestead garden commercially.
‘We defeat poverty. All scarcity has gone away, PPEPP-EU connected us with the right facilities.’ They have not only supported us to be solvent but also helped us to get deserved government facilities.
PPEPP-EU, the Community mobilization component builds linkage with public and private service providers through grassroots advocacy. To do this, the project adopts the ‘Service Delivery to Rights’ approach and engages and sensitizes community people as well as relevant stakeholders to ensure participant households’ access to safety nets, services, and opportunities. PPEPP-EU facilitated connections with local government offices, and other stakeholders.