In August 2025, Nusrat Mahmud Ananna met 19-year-old Aysha Siddik in Jamalpur, Bangladesh. Pulled out of school early and raising a young daughter with no stable income, Aysha had faced a life full of obstacles. Despite her challenges, she demonstrated remarkable determination not to let her circumstances define her future, expressing a strong desire to create a better life for herself and her daughter.
Aysha completed a two-month industrial sewing machine training under the SWAPNO II programme and is now employed as an operator at Jin Hong Garments in Gazipur, earning BDT 15,000 (USD 123) per month — her first stable salary. Her journey illustrates the transformative impact that even a single opportunity can have on a young woman seeking to change her life.
In 2025, SWAPNO II reached 3,331 young rural women like Aysha, offering apprenticeships, formal jobs, income-generating activities, and entrepreneurship training. Many of these women are now earning livelihoods through livestock, agriculture, small businesses, and trade skills. Some have entered male-dominated professions for the first time, completed industrial sewing training, or started and expanded enterprises using digital tools and enhanced financial skills.
The programme highlights the critical role of Bangladesh’s youth population in national development. By investing in rural young women, SWAPNO II not only provides skills and income but also strengthens families, shifts gender norms, and builds resilience in underserved communities. Aysha’s story exemplifies the ripple effect of giving young women a chance, showing how empowerment can transform individual lives and inspire broader community change.
