Family Futures - pathways out of extreme poverty

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.