Sewing Machines Bring Brighter Days!

On 28 May 2025 at Camp-16, the Skills for Hope, Independence and Empowerment (SHINE) project, implemented by Mukti Cox's Bazar, with financial support from the Obama Foundation and technical assistance from CARE Bangladesh, distributed certificates and sewing machines along with required sewing materials amongst 15 trainees after the successful completion of their 120-hour Non-Formal Technical Training (NFTT) on "Sewing and Sewing Machine Operation". 

The distribution event, presided over by the Chief Executive of Mukti Cox's Bazar, Mr. Bimal Chandra Dey Sarker, was attended by the Camp-in-Charge (CiC) of Camp-16 Mr. Rintu Bikash Chakma as the Chief Guest.

In his speech as the Chief Guest, Mr. Rintu Bikash Chakma opined, "Women can maintain their honor and restore their dignity in the family by ensuring a regular income, thus, reducing Gender-Based Violence (GBV)." He expressed that if this training is utilized properly, women will become self-reliant and domestic violence will be reduced to a great extent.

In his speech as the President of the event, Mr. Bimal Chandra Dey Sarker said, "Mukti Cox's Bazar has been working tirelessly for the socio-economic and overall development of poverty-stricken and backward women of Cox's Bazar to break their shackle of dependence on others. Using these sewing machines as an excellent means of income, women will be able to restore family prosperity and build themselves as confident." He later added that, confident mothers build a confident generation. He requested all the recipient trainees to use these sewing machines properly.

Taslima, who had successfully completed the sewing training, said, “Before the training, in a sense, I knew nothing about sewing. But now, in addition to making my own clothes skillfully, I can also earn money by sewing other people’s clothes.” 

As a trainee, Samjida expressed, “I never thought that Mukti Cox’s Bazar would provide me with a sewing machine after receiving 120 hours of sewing training. After receiving the sewing machine, I became so confident that I felt like I could conquer the whole world with my sewing skills.” 

The distribution event was also attended by Mr.  Md. Khairul Islam, Director-Monitoring & Evaluation of Mukti Cox's Bazar; Mr. Hasanuzzaman, Senior MEAL Manager of CARE Bangladesh; Ms. Bipasha Islam, Senior Finance Officer of CARE Bangladesh; Gazi Md. Asaduzzaman, Senior Program Officer; Project Project Manager of SHINE; CMA, Camp-16; and relevant trainers.