Symbiosis International is a registered Australian charity helping to transform the lives of Bangladesh’s poorest people for over 20 years.
Despite significant improvements over this time, over 21 million Bangladeshis continue to live in extreme poverty.
We believe that with the right tools and support, even the most impoverished and marginalised people of Bangladesh can be empowered to overcome poverty by working together.
Empowered to work together for good – Shahara’s story
“When I first joined the Symbiosis group, my husband and son thought it was a waste of time to learn to read, write and handle money.” Over time their attitude changed.
“With the first loan from my savings, I started a convenience store from my house and once I had repaid that loan, I bought a cow. My son now runs the shop and cares for the cow.” She beams “My family now trust my opinion more than their own.”
Her fellow group members feel the same and Shahara was elected to be President when the Padma Commmunity Organisation was being formed by a network of local Symbiosis savings groups.
As President, Shahara uses her voice to advocate for better services and to resolve conflict within groups, encouraging the women to continue working together. “Together we are able to do so much more than on our own”.
Join us in empowering women like Shahara to learn, save and grow their way out of poverty by working together.
What We Do
Symbiosis works within communities with those who are illiterate and landless, mainly women in rural areas, and other disadvantaged groups such as ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
Connect those in greatest need to a Symbiosis Group to gain a functional education while learning to save and equipping them for future opportunity.
Partner with Community Based Organisations to assist them to become change agents in their community, while supporting them to increase their economic capacity.
Provide vocational training in both urban and rural skills for adults, to enable income generation opportunities. Facilitate education pathways for children.
Facilitate access to primary health-care including maternal health, eye care and disability support, as well as providing access to clean water
Our Impact
By working together for good, your support in 2018 has helped to empower tens of thousands of the poorest people of Bangladesh to develop innovative ways to tackle poverty within their families and communities.
Check out what we achieved together over the last year in our latest annual report.
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