Artisan’s Stories - Fair Trade in Bangladesh
SETTARA BEGUM
It was obvious where Settara Begum did her work. Fifty screens with handmade paper were scattered about her yard, drying in the last of the afternoon sun. A thin woman, wearing a yellow cotton sari was bustling about moving the screens to maximize the sun’s exposure for the final two hours of daylight.
Begum is one of the original women who were trained to make pulp and lift paper at the Biborton Handmade Paper project. Begum’s face displays the hardships of her life. It is a face that could never be described as carefree, or light-hearted. Etched in her eyes is a mixture of sadness,
resignation and determination, pointing to a strong personality underneath. This is a woman who has survived on her own for many years in a culture that is not supportive of women, especially women without husbands.
Begum’s childhood was happy enough. She was able to attend school up to lass 6, and for a few years after that, helped her family around the home. Her favorite task was looking after the family’s three cows. Her father died when she was 16. A marriage was arranged by her uncle and two years after, a daughter was born. Seven months after that, Begum’s husband decided to remarry. Begum, feeling that her place had been taken by another woman, took Shima, her seven month old daughter, and returned to her mother’s home. She was living on the charity of her brothers as well as by buying unhusked rice, processing it at her home, and then selling it in the market. Later, she worked for a weaving business.
During this time, Begum heard about a new MCC project that was being established in the area. Begum was hired in the pre-project phase and is now a vital part of the paper project. With the income Begum earns, she has invested in a savings account, has bought a cow and some land on which to grow rice. She has an improved house of three rooms and a little veranda where she plans to dry her paper during the rainy season. The house has a tin roof, concrete pillars for support and walls made of woven reeds.
Shima, her daughter, is in class 7 and doing very well at school. Despite the many trials and difficulties, Begum has persevered and has become a strong and confident woman.
Today, fair trade enterprise has helped thousands of Bengali women and families like Settara’s gain skills and knowledge of craft making that enable them to provide for their families and become respected, participating members of their community.
Look for wonderful fair trade products such as handmade paper notebooks, CD cases, and recyclable jute, tote bags from Bengali artisans at most Ten Thousand Village stores across the US and Canada.
admin @ January 8, 2008