Sanjita, aged 25, has worked for Jobarpar for 1 year. She was educated to class 10 but failed exams for secondary school so her parents arranged her marriage. Her husband had a small store which failed due to lack of business. After that they were very poor. They had a child, Ashimita, in 2004. Life was very hard. Sanjita’s husband died in 2005 after falling from a tree. Sanjita discovered that her husband had taken out several loans, just for money to live on, and she inherited those loans, which will take a long time to pay back.
At Jobarpar, Sanjita works on cards and stars: cutting and assembling these products. She really enjoys working with a group of women who are so positive and energetic. She loves feeling that her work is worthwhile.
With the money she earns, Sanjita sends her daughter to school – she is currently in JK. The rest of the money goes to pay off the loans. They live with her parents. “My daughter is everything to me”, she said. “Without this job I could not live.” She hopes to provide the best education that she can for Ashimita.
She asks that we remember her when we are back in Canada, sell her products and place more orders so that she can continue to send her daughter to school and pay off the loans.
Interview by Ian
More pictures from Jobarpar:
Handmade paper drying in the sun
We were welcomed with a song.
Chaos while trying to reach the ferry on the way back to Dhaka.
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