Consider this point of view:

You’ve never had a bank account before. Your parents didn’t have one either.

You’ve never earned more money each day than you need to stay alive for the next. 

You’ve never purchased anything at the shop other than what you need to survive. 

You’ve never considered the idea of saving. And if you have, you’ve never seen its merit – what can you do with so little savings anyway? 

When your income is regularly less than what you need from one day to the next, putting money aside feels like short changing yourself or worse, short changing your loved ones from having things like enough food to eat that day.

For people who have never lived in poverty the concept of ‘saving’ almost feels like a natural idea. But consider this – what’s at stake for the people in poverty ‘to save’ is much higher than people who live poverty free can imagine. 

When Symbiosis present stories of lives being changed through savings, we want you to pause and consider the magnitude of the decision it is for people who live below the poverty line to in fact ‘save’, to start to save. How tempting it must be to save a little and then buy and eat a lot, for just one day, when you are so hungry. In the beginning, contributing 5 BDT (equivalent to 0.062 AUD) is a lot of money, it’s money for survival.

So what makes ‘saving’ seem possible and something positive to do?

With the example of their fellow group members, who have lived or do live in poverty still, the concept that ‘saving’ brings long term change is what brings clarity to their decision to ‘save’. Acting as examples and motivation to each other is what brings merit to the concept.

To be able to learn and work with their fellow women and walk with the support of Symbiosis, not doing it alone is what makes ‘saving’ a reality.

The power of the group, the collective action, shows and makes people see a life free of poverty is possible.

A big decision worth celebrating

So when you read stories of change, take notice that beginning to save is part of every story and mentioned in nearly every interview we publish. 

Why?

It’s not just because the way we work promotes ‘saving’ – it’s because it is a big decision, it’s a brave decision and it’s a decision these women make together that we should always celebrate.

Below are just a few women’s decisions to celebrate from the reports we received last quarter.

Soniya’ s life took a turn for the better when she became a member of the Shuchona Women Group. She was introduced to the concept of savings and began participating in weekly group meetings.

 – Soniya  Integrated Community Development Project – Mymensingh

Recognizing the potential benefits, Sajeda joined the group. She began regular savings and attended weekly meetings.

– Sajeda, Jamalpur Sherpur Development Project

After that, [Aklima] joined the Golap Mohila Group, where she started saving money. Aklima also motivated other women in her village to join the group and start saving as well.

– Aklima, Sustainability Training Development Service project

Nurunnahar met and interacted with one of the staff [members] of Symbiosis Bangladesh. Inspired by the discussion, she joined in the functional education program of Symbiosis Bangladesh. Her morale increased and she became interested in doing new things. Apart from reading, she with some of the functional education trainees formed a savings group.

– Nurunnahar, Dhobaura Haluaghat Project