Justice and Human Rights Bangladesh Project #51930

Family Futures - pathways out of extreme poverty

by UK Bangladesh Education Trust

Project Report | Feb 23, 2026
2025 Progress Summary

By Mohammed Sayem | Project leader

Extreme poverty remains one of the primary drivers of child domestic labour in Bangladesh. UKBET’s Family Futures – Pathway out of extreme poverty programme addresses this root cause by strengthening household income while ensuring children can access and remain in education.

The approach is family-centred: stabilise income, build skills, and protect children from labour.

Key achievements – 2025

Livelihood strengthening

83 families received microgrants to start or expand small businesses.

57 families have sustained their enterprises and are successfully repaying the loan component.

Supported businesses include tailoring, fish and vegetable trading, tea stalls, grocery shops, rickshaw vans and other small enterprises suited to local markets. Strengthened household income reduces reliance on children’s earnings.

Skills & employment

87 adolescents enrolled in vocational training (tailoring and beautification).

43 trainees are now employed.

2 trainees have become self-employed.

Skills development creates safe alternatives to exploitative labour and strengthens long-term economic resilience.

Education impact

477 children engaged in education and development programmes in 2025.

111 former child labourers admitted into formal schools.

By improving family stability, children are able to transition from labour into classrooms and remain in education.

Case study – Shila (Not real name)

Shila (Not real name), aged 13, began working in domestic labour when her family’s income became unstable. Through the Family Futures programme, her household received a microgrant to strengthen a small trading business.

As income stabilised, Shila (Not real name) left domestic work and returned to school. She now attends regularly and supports her younger siblings with their studies.

Her mother shared:

“When our income became steady, we no longer needed our daughter to work. Now she studies, and we feel hopeful.”

In 2025, the Family Future programme demonstrated that addressing poverty at the household level is essential to ending child labour. By combining livelihood support, vocational training and education engagement, families are moving towards stability and children are reclaiming their right to learn.

When families earn with dignity, children can grow with opportunity.

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Sep 15, 2025
Report on Family future programme

By Mohammed Sayem | Project leader

Extreme poverty often forces families in Sylhet to send their children into domestic or hazardous work just to survive. UKBET’s Family Future – Pathway out of Extreme Poverty programme directly tackles this cycle by supporting whole households. Families receive small business support, vocational training, access to healthcare, and help enrolling children and siblings into school. The programme’s approach is simple yet powerful: if families are stable and earning, children are free to study and dream.

Key Achievements (Jan–Aug 2025)Family Empowerment & Livelihood

28 families received micro-grants in the form of rickshaws, food stalls, tailoring machines, and small trading stock.
8 parents/guardians began vocational training in tailoring, electrical work, and beauty care.
6 adults secured safe jobs (clinic assistants, shop workers, drivers).
93 siblings enrolled into schools with fees, uniforms, and books provided.
47 children and 9 siblings receive regular tuition support, now strengthened with paid tutors including three former beneficiaries.
31 children who left child labour now benefit from full sponsorship.
221 families screened for health risks: 15 diabetes cases, 42 high blood pressure, 3 untreated fractures, and many skin diseases identified. Families referred to affordable care.
Monthly hygiene packs (soap, shampoo, oil, toothpaste) distributed.
Fortified biscuits provided to children to ease family food stress.
22 community meetings held on topics such as child marriage prevention, savings, and family health.
14 family members obtained essential documents (birth certificates, disability and elderly allowances).

Education SupportHealth & WellbeingCommunity EngagementCase Study: Rina (Not real name) and Her Family

Rina (Not real name), aged 12, once worked as a maid after her father (Not real name) became too ill to pull rickshaws. With UKBET’s support, the family received a rickshaw van, enabling her father to earn again. Rina’s brother (Not real name) was enrolled in school, and Rina now studies with private tuition instead of working. Her mother (Not real name) joined tailoring training to start a home-based sewing business.

“Before, we depended on our daughter’s earnings. Now, we depend on our own hands,” the family shared.

Recognition

Best Family Progress Award: Shila’s (Not real name) household for moving two children into school.
Community Contribution Award: Nasima (Not real name) for mobilising neighbours to join awareness sessions.

Conclusion

From January to August 2025, UKBET’s Family Future programme has enabled families to strengthen livelihoods, access healthcare, and send children to school instead of work. By keeping the entire household at the centre, the programme restores dignity, builds resilience, and helps families walk together on a pathway out of poverty.

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Apr 16, 2025
Report on family futures programme

By Mohammed Sayem | Executive Director

Supporting Families. Empowering Children.

In 2024, many families lost everything to floods in Sylhet, Noakhali, and Cumilla. With no home or income, some were forced to send their children to work.

UKBET stood beside them – not just helping children, but supporting whole families to rebuild their lives and futures.

Family Support at the Heart

Real change starts at home. That’s why all our work – from education to training – is designed to support families first.

80 families received Family Futures Micro-Grants to start small businesses
Over 280 families supported to date
Families commit to keeping children in school or training – not in labour

Case Study: Rupa’s( Not real name) Story – A Family Transformed

Rupa ( Not real name), a 10-year-old orphan raised by her older sister, had never seen the inside of a classroom. She worked long hours as a domestic helper until she joined our Doorstep Learning Programme. With her teacher’s encouragement and her sister’s support, Rupa( Not real name) left child labour and will start school in January 2025. Her dream? To become a teacher – and to help girls like her build better futures.

Her story is not just about one child. It’s about a family given the chance to hope, to grow, and to thrive.

Impact Through Learning

Our Doorstep Learning Programme reached 448 working children in 2024.
With family support, many children left labour for better futures:

94 joined school
80 began training
49 siblings also started school

A Brighter Future

When families are supported, children thrive.
With your help, we’ll continue to put families first in 2025 – so every child has a chance to learn, grow, and dream.

Full 2024 Report: UKBET - Impact Report 2024 - Doorstep Learning Programme

Thank you for standing with families.

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