In the village of Moharajpur in Khulna, Taslima Khatun and her family have faced severe climate change impacts, including overflowing rivers, floods, salinity, and droughts. These disasters destroyed her home, displaced her animals, caused food shortages, and led to health problems. Fish enclosures flooded, and vegetable gardens were ruined, leaving Taslima struggling to secure her family’s livelihood.

Despite facing financial hardship and health issues, Taslima remained determined to find a way forward. Her resilience led her to initiate a collective land cultivation scheme with 20 women. They mortgaged land and created a successful venture through crop cultivation. Taslima reinvested her earnings into poultry farming, building a stable foundation for her family. Through the project, she opened her first bank account and learned financial management and banking practices.

The empowerment gained through capacity development training helped Taslima overcome initial obstacles and break down social stereotypes. She learned climate-resilient agriculture and reinvested profits into diverse income sources. The knowledge and support she received allowed her to establish market linkages and start ventures like poultry and vegetable cultivation from her home.

Taslima’s influence spread throughout the community. “I envision a future free from climate vulnerability by building a climate-resilient home and business for my family, especially my daughters,” she shared. Her transformation into a community leader highlights the impact of community-driven action and social empowerment.