Shabnoor

“The skills I’ve acquired allow me to tailor clothes for both my son and myself. This not only saves me a significant amount of money, but it also sharpens my sewing skills. Once I have mastered this craft, I am hopeful of receiving orders from my neighbors and turning it into a source of income,” Shabnoor confidently expresses.

Shabnoor, a resident of the host community in Bangaldesh’s Cox’s Bazar district, has overcome extreme hardship and is now an inspiring example for her peers.

At the age of 16, while pursuing her education in the seventh grade, Shabnoor left home to get married. Although the legal age of marriage for women in Bangladesh is 18 years, the country has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world. 51% of girls in Bangladesh are married before their 18th birthday and 15% are married before the age of 15.(1). While studies show that child marriage is driven by several factors including gender norms, poverty, and education, there is a strong association between child marriage and displacement. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported increased instances of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and child marriage affecting young girls in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar (2). Families have reported marrying off young girls to access food rations and protect them from sexual violence within camps.

Shabnoor’s husband was a carpenter by trade. Regrettably, following their marriage, Shabnoor soon discovered a harsh reality about her spouse. She recounts the initial signs of marital discord: “Upon our marriage, my husband made a significant request. He desired an easybike or Tuktuk which is three-wheeler passenger bike as his dowry. My family, however, was of limited means and unable to satisfy this demand.”

When Shabnoor’s parents expressed their inability to meet the dowry, her husband responded with a severe lack of understanding, resorting to physical abuse. Left with little choice, the family endeavored to fulfill his demands.

Regrettably, the dowry did not mark the end of Shabnoor’s struggles. Within five months of their wedding, she discovered her husband’s alcohol addiction. His return home in an intoxicated state often led to instances of violence directed at Shabnoor.

Amidst this tumultuous environment, Shabnoor became a mother to a boy. She hoped that the arrival of their child would strengthen her husband’s ties to the family. However, her hopes were in vain as he continued his path of aggression, extending it to their son.

For three years, Shabnoor endured this hostile environment. With no indication of any potential change in her husband’s behavior, she made the decision to end her marriage at the age of 20. Subsequently, she returned to her parents’ home, accompanied by her son.

“I have encountered numerous obstacles on my journey towards my self-sufficiency. Upon my return to the parents, I have confronted disparaging remarks from the neighbors. Coupled with my parents’ financial instability and the responsibility of raising my young son, I felt overwhelmed and helpless,” she recounts.

At a border village in the Ukhiya sub-district of Cox’s Bazar, Shabnoor currently resides with her parents supporting her young son while grappling with significant personal difficulties.

Despite her hardships, Shabnoor found an opportunity to improve her situation when she was selected for the JF-CPiE project. This initiative is designed to provide skill-based training for income-generating activities.

“Participating in the programme, I acquired sewing skills. This new expertise not only offers me a path to financial independence but also serves as a distraction from my current adversities,” Shabnoor explains.

JF-CPiE is focused on enhancing protection for vulnerable children. The initiative revolves around prevention, risk mitigation, and access to specialized child protection services in Cox’s Bazar. An integral part of the project is providing income-generating activities trainings and necessary tailoring materials for participants like Shabnoor.

Shabnoor is confident about her future after the completion of her training, “My plan is to invest in a sewing machine. With the skills I’ve acquired, I will generate income that will provide for my son’s education and our livelihood.”

During her sewing classes, Shabnoor found solace in the training center which she regards as a second home. The new friendships she formed served as emotional support, helping her cope with her personal struggles. Habiba, the sewing instructor commends Shabnoor’s progress, “Shabnoor is an adept learner. She has made significant progress in a short period. She also shares a good rapport with her peers at the training center.”

In addition to Shabnoor’s progress, her son Omar Sadek is enrolled in the project’s case management service. This measure is taken to mitigate any risks to Omar, given the tumultuous environment and his past traumatic experiences with his father. Shabnoor’s training period is drawing to a close, a phase that has proven to be beneficial for her.

“The skills I’ve acquired allow me to tailor clothes for both my son and myself. This not only saves me a significant amount of money, but it also sharpens my sewing skills. Once I have mastered this craft, I am hopeful of receiving orders from my neighbors and turning it into a source of income,” Shabnoor confidently expresses.

Shabnoor is resolute in her pursuit of self-reliance, driven by the aspiration to provide a better future for her only son.

• 1 https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/learning-resources/child-marriage-atlas/atlas/bangladesh/
• 2 https://www.iom.int/news/un-migration-director-general-warns-increasing-reports-violent-sexual-assaults-against-rohingya