Support Rohingya refugee women

Thank you for your support of this project. I'm writing to share a story from one woman's road to resilience in Cox's Bazar.

 In Camp 12 of the Rohingya refugee camp, one woman is quietly reshaping expectations through her daily work. Amina, a 32-year-old mother of five, is showing that women can take on roles far beyond what tradition has dictated. In a place where opportunities are scarce and customs run deep, she has become a symbol of resilience and stereotypes breaker.

Amina’s journey was far from easy. In 2017, she fled Myanmar with her family, leaving behind their home and farmland. Life became even harder two years ago when her husband was left paralysed, making her the sole provider for him, their children, and her elderly mother-in-law. With no stable income, the family relied almost entirely on humanitarian aid, often struggling to afford even the most essentials like food and medicine.

Determined to change her family’s situation, she began looking for work. With no formal education or technical training, opportunities were scarce. Then she heard about and ActionAid Bangladesh WASH project, which included volunteer roles in solid waste management.

In her community, waste management is stereotypically considered men’s work. Women usually volunteer in areas such as caregiving, hygiene promotion, or education. But Amina chose to step into this male-dominated role, challenging the stereotype head-on. She began going door to door, collecting waste, segregating organic and inorganic materials, and helping to turn the organic waste into fertilizer. Her work has not only kept her community cleaner and safer but has also contributed to healthier living conditions across the camp.

“I never went to school,” Amina shares. “In Myanmar, my husband worked on farmland. Here in Bangladesh, he found some work to support us. I never went outside to work. I didn’t even think about it. Now I do, and it doesn’t take away my dignity.”

To her relief, Amina’s family and community accepted her new role. She now earns 8,750 taka a month, which helps to buy essentials like clothes, and food that her family once went without.

Tragedy struck again recently when her husband passed away. Now, she carries the full responsibility of raising her children and caring for her mother-in-law. Yet her work continues, and its impact goes beyond her own household. In a camp where proper waste disposal is crucial to preventing disease, Amina’s efforts are helping to protect thousands of lives.

Today, Amina walks with a renewed sense of dignity. Her work is recognized and valued, and she hopes her example will inspire other women to step beyond traditional boundaries. Though she is shy to speak about her own dreams, Amina continues her work with quiet determination. For now, her focus remains on providing for her children and ensuring they can grow up healthy and educated.

Amina's story is not only about survival, it is a journey of courage. In breaking barriers with such grace, she lights the way for other women in her community to step forward, proving that even in the most difficult circumstances, change can begin with one determined voice.

Thank you for your support of ActionAid's efforts, which allows for stories, like Amina's, to be told.