The work of Symbiosis is built on a foundational belief: that transformation for the poor and marginalised happens most effectively through relationships of trust and peer support within their own communities. An incredible example of this framework in action is the 18-year journey of Shahanaz.
Twenty years ago, Shahanaz’s reality was one of hardship. Deserted by her husband, she found herself homeless, destitute, and forced to buy cheap rice to feed her two daughters. Like many in rural Bangladesh, she was trapped in a cycle of poverty.
Everything changed when Shahanaz met a Symbiosis worker in 2008. She heard about what Symbiosis was doing and gathered a group of 20 women together to form their own self help group. The group started by saving just 6 cents per week, then increased to 15 cents and now each member saves more than $1.70 per week.
Shahanaz’s circumstances really began to shift when she took an initial loan of $75 from the group to buy a goat. After a year, she sold the goat to buy a cow. Earnings from the cow allowed her to lease paddy land, where she could cultivate and sell rice. She now has her own tailoring business with three sewing machines to make clothes and shopping bags for the market.
“I didn’t have this house.
I had my small children, but I didn’t have my husband, nor did I have any support. I earned the money myself to build this house and to provide an education for my daughters.” – Shahanaz
This progression illustrates the Symbiosis strategy: using savings and internal lending to address economic constraints and build household stability. Today, Shahanaz is no longer just surviving; she is a leader who has taught 150 other women to sew, acting as a “motivator for change” within her community.
Shahanaz is a testament to the work and her own unstoppable spirit.
“I will not let go of the plow; I will gain higher education for these two girls, so they can find a good job.” – Shahanaz
Recognising the value of working together, Shahanaz has built a life and a home, driven by the goal of educating her daughters. With both of her daughters currently enrolled in study, they are the living proof of her determination.
Her daughter Jasmine is now a final-year Honours student studying Social Work. Jasmine’s dream is to enter a life of service, potentially pursuing higher education abroad before returning to help others in Bangladesh. The hope and opportunity now held by the next generation is the fruit of what Shahanaz started 18 years ago.
“My mother is an indomitable woman. She raised us through various adversities; she is still persevering. In the future, I want to be an indomitable woman too.”
– Jasmine
Shahanaz built the foundation, her daughters are building the future.
The ultimate goal of Symbiosis is to walk alongside the marginalised in rural Bangladesh, fostering personal and community transformation through education, savings groups, and health initiatives and in doing so break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Symbiosis continues to support leaders like Shahanaz who, having empowered themselves, are now busy empowering everyone around them.
GIVE NOW to our “Odommo Nari – Unstoppable Woman” Appeal. Together, we can equip more women with the tools to break the cycle of poverty, supporting a transformation that strengthens families, builds resilient communities and brings hope for the future.