Uniforms Connect Australia and Bangladesh part 1 and 2

(or What's in a Name)
Names and their meanings are very important here in Bangladesh. China, Beauty, Lovely and Lucky are a few of the women in this story. It is a story I am lucky to have been a part of.

Part 1
Way back 3 life times ago, around this time last year, when we were planning to come to Bangladesh, I started asking what I could raise money for before we came. Someone suggested that the very poor children at our Symbiosis school have no uniforms. It was agreed I would try and raise money to pay to have school uniforms made for these children. We would contract women who had learnt tailoring skills through Symbiosis projects to make them enabling them to generate income for their families (rather than just pay garment factories). The uniforms would raise the status of the children in their communities and encourage them to keep going to school as well as simply providing clothes.

This was a gift that would give twice!


The children at St Ignatius have the privilege of having uniforms. For one day they were ask to pay for that honour or, if they wanted the give twice, they could wear casual clothes and pay double. Families were generous beyond my wildest imaginings.... Thank you Iggies!
(I wore a three piece and talked about Bangladesh. Here I am with my good friend Vicki... who has become a mum while we have been away.)

Part 2
Nothing is ever easy in Bangladesh! The contracting of the work proved more difficult than expected. The women had not made uniforms before. The up side is that now approximately 10 women have a new skills they can market. Finally work was well under way and we set off to see it in progress!
(Lucky shows me the great work of her students)

Lucky was our first guide. Lucky, once a Symbiosis student herself, is one of our teachers and has offered support to China and Beauty.



Beauty has traveled some distance to meet us. She lives in the very poor sandbar area where we will go later to deliver the completed uniforms.

Her husband is only able to see his family 4 times a year as he has to work in a factory in Dhaka. The joy she has from gaining this big order is clear to see on her face. She is Beauty!


China will use the money she earns to keep her children at school and to buy ducks and chickens.

Shopna and Lovely were the next two women we visited. Lovely worked away quietly.

Lovely! (by name and workmanship!)

Shopna has passed on the skills she learnt from Symbiosis to Lovely. Basic tools: Tape measure, screw driver and treadle sewing machine!

Most tailors are men in this male dominated culture but receiving this large order has generated much interest in the community and now Shopna, assisted by Lovely have new clients!

Amina and Shumana are in Jamalpur and there the police gave us and escourt and shared lunch with us.
I am modeling a three piece.

These 2 ladies have made 30 pairs of shorts, 45 shirts, 51 three pieces, 99 frocks and 15 trousers on sewing machine they were able to buy because of interest free loans from Symbiosis. Yet another way Symbiosis helps!

Sharing Stories with Amana

Finally we went to Mymensingh, where we have been doing most of our work. After a toilet stop I expected to get in the car again but no, we just had to cross the main road and walk a little to be in a slum area where the final lady we were to visit, lives. The house was small and crowded with sewing fabric and people who came to see why Mukta was having foreign visitors. We stepped over open sewers,


but Mukta was very proud of the work she was doing to help poor children have uniforms for school.

WHAT A DAY
WHAT A JOY to be a part of this.
Real people; real benefits ... beyond my wildest dreams. A fine match for the gifts given beyond my dreams in Australia!

These women had gained so much more than just the pay they had received. They have new skills, new clients and have been empowered by the whole process!

Stay tuned for part 3 when I get to deliver the uniforms to the children I hear are very excited to getting a brand new school uniforms made just for them with love from both Australia and Bangladesh!
Jeanette .... so children like this one can benefit!