In rural Bangladesh, shoe repairing and manufacturing have traditionally been considered men’s work—physically demanding, socially stigmatized, and far removed from women’s expected roles. Shilpi Rani Das, a 35-year-old from Laksham, Cumilla, is challenging this perception. She spends her days at a local footwear workshop as an apprentice, learning the craft of shoe repairing and manufacturing, proving that skill and resilience are not confined by gender.
Shilpi’s journey has been shaped by personal hardship. Married young and later widowed, she was left to raise two children with limited income. To survive, she began repairing shoes door to door, earning only BDT 200 (USD 1.64) per day, while facing ridicule for entering a “man’s job.” Despite the stigma, she remained determined to build a livelihood and support her family.
Her situation transformed when she joined the Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities (SWAPNO) project through the Bakoi Union Parishad in Laksham. The program provided not only income support but also dignity, confidence, and skills. Through training in communication, self-reliance, and technical abilities, Shilpi gained respect in her community and strengthened her independence.
Today, Shilpi is part of over 1,000 women receiving structured apprenticeship training under SWAPNO in both traditional and non-traditional trades, including shoe repairing and manufacturing. The program combines a mentor–mentee approach with a two-month technical course, helping participants master production techniques, market demand, and business management.
Shilpi aspires to open her own shoe-making and repair shop, turning a male-dominated trade into a pathway for independence. By saving from her earnings and investing in her future, she is demonstrating that women can succeed in professions once reserved for men.
Implemented by UNDP Bangladesh with the Local Government Division and supported by the Embassy of Sweden and Marico, SWAPNO is more than a job creation initiative. It is dismantling cultural barriers, redefining gender roles, and empowering women to thrive in any profession. Shilpi’s story embodies breaking norms, building futures, and inspiring a generation of women to step boldly into spaces where they were never expected to stand.
