Manx residents, Hugh and Sandra Davidson, are working with Oxfam, co-funding a project in Bangladesh, and invited the One World Centre Director, Rosemary Clarke, to visit the project with Alex Wotton from Manx Radio and Pete Smith from Oxfam. Rosemary was delighted to see the way that women in rural areas with very little education are being empowered to develop their business skills. Some have chosen milk and, by marketing together, they have increased both their income and their spare time. Others are growing maize or chilli alongside rice and vegetables.
One person now has a tube well; another rebuilt and furnished her home; a third bought a sewing machine to be able to generate more income. Several were enjoying wearing saris that they had chosen for themselves – in the past they were not allowed to go to the market and had to depend on the selection a male member of their family made.
