Speaking up for herself and for her community: Farzana’s journey of driving change

In the heart of Pallabi, a new change is being brought about by an energetic, resilient 30-year-old woman named Farzana. Once an invisible figure in her community, she has become a respectable leader and mentor for the 130+ women in her group within her organisation. Indeed, her story is the best example of how training, skills development, and cooperative action can change lives.

Farzana joined the Pallabi Cooperative Society Cottage Industry Limited in 2008 and has actively empowered her community. Being a home-based worker, she has faced many of the challenges that other women face – they are discriminated against, paid in arrears, and have no voice to raise these issues within their society. However, with the proper support and training, she broke free from the conventional constraints and not only changed her own life but also helped build the lives of hundreds of other women fighting for themselves.

"I have always believed that if we want to grow, we have to learn and share," says Farzana. "That's why I have dedicated myself to passing on the knowledge I have gained to others."

For Farzana, training programs have been a milestone in her life. Through LIE and HNSA, she has received training in various skill-building exercises. These trainings not only touched upon the more basic technical skills, such as embroidery – but also covered deeper issues like gender-based violence, digital literacy, and how to negotiate in business.

"As someone who did not know how to use digital tools before the training, to hold a Zoom meeting was unimaginable," says Farzana. "Now we use Zoom for meetings and even do all our businesses online."

One significant change Farzana and her fellow home-based workers have witnessed is their dealings with middlemen. Previously, exploitative middlemen would delay payments for embroidery and other work for weeks and months. Individual women in the community felt they had no power against these exploitations as raising issues would cost them future work.

All this changed when they received training in wage negotiation and collective bargaining. They were taught to stand in one voice and speak out as a group, amplifying their voices.

‘When we stood alone, nobody paid heed to us. But when we all stood up together, they had no choice but to listen," Farzana says. "Now, we demand to be paid within 30 days, and they obey. It is respect earned through collective action."

Here has also been a palpable change in the treatment of women within the community. Farzana explained that earlier, women were dismissed and their contributions under-valued. However, after training, many changes occurred as their cooperation grew stronger.

"Now, when we walk through our community, people respect us," Farzana beams proudly. "They know that we contribute — in terms of what we bring in, but as people, too." This respect isn't just a consequence of new skills but also that influx of confidence because they have their group behind them and organisations like LIE and HNSA to back them up. 

During the last couple of years, under Farzana's leadership, the Pallabi Cooperative Society Cottage Industry Limited, Sylhet camp has increased its members to 130, who all value the knowledge and skills achieved from the training. 

She is passionate about the future of the cooperative, seeing expansion into even greater numbers and greater collective strength. "I hope that people come to realise how strong the power of knowledge is and come aboard. Together, we can grow and succeed in every form."

The world without Zoom meetings was different for Farzana and her team. Farzana shares how this has made women come under an expanded network, more exposure, and modern business methods. "We relied on face-to-face connections," she shares. "Now we can connect with others through digital means. This makes us feel more empowered and connected."