Every day in Dhaka, Bangladesh thousands of mothers head to work in garment factories across the city. Without access to child care, they are often forced to leave their young children alone, vulnerable and at risk.
Since 2013, Traid has funded Nagorik Uddyog to help ease that burden by establishing two daycare centres and two drop-in centres for the children of garment workers. These safe, supportive spaces provide care, education, food and health checks for 180 children aged 2–16 each year.
We’re proud to share the stories of two mothers whose families have been positively impacted by this vital project.
Nahar, 33, is the mother of four-year-old Yasin. Growing up in poverty, Nahar could not continue her education after the 5th grade. To support her family, she moved to Dhaka to begin working in a garment factory working long hours to make ends meet.
In 2018, Nahar married a construction worker and, for a time, found a sense of stability. This changed when her husband stopped contributing towards the family, refusing to work and leaving the financial burden entirely on Nahar’s shoulders. The situation became especially difficult during her pregnancy with Yasin — Nahar, still working full-time, was the sole earner.
In 2020, at the time of the COVID-19 lockdown Nahar gave birth to her son. With no income from her husband, Nahar had to spend all her savings to survive. When the money ran out, she returned to domestic work with the added anxiety of leaving her child unattended.
Four years later, Nahar’s situation took a hopeful turn. Through support from the Traid-funded project, she was able to enrol Yasin in one of Nagorik Uddyog’s daycare centres in Adabar, a neighbourhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh. These centres are designed to meet the full needs of young children providing safe, clean spaces to play and learn, nutritious meals, and drinking water. Crucially, they stay open from 7am to 8pm, giving working mothers like Nahar the peace of mind to earn a living knowing their children are in safe hands.
Today, Nahar works at a nearby factory as an operator, without worrying about her child’s safety. Nahar says, “I feel safe leaving my child here. I’m happy with the care he receives. Now, I can focus on work with peace of mind.”
Another mother whose life has been positively impacted is Nipa, 20, and her two-year-old daughter, Sadia.
Nipa was just 16 when she finished school and was married shortly after. Initially, her married life was peaceful however this changed when her sister-in-law moved into Nipa’s home with her two children.
Around the same time, Nipa became pregnant and the household pressure mounted. Her in-laws demanded that she terminate the pregnancy and raise her sister-in-law’s children instead. When Nipa refused, she became the target of escalating emotional and physical abuse.
In November 2022, Nipa gave birth to Sadia. Instead of welcoming the baby, her in-laws responded with even greater hostility. One day, after a minor disagreement, Nipa’s husband violently assaulted her. Nipa called her parents, who immediately brought her back to their home and sought medical support from a local doctor.
Determined to give their daughter and granddaughter a better future, Nipa’s parents tried to reconcile with her husband — but he eventually severed all contact. With limited resources, Nipa’s family struggled to support her and Sadia so Nipa made a courageous decision to move to Dhaka in search of work and a new start.
In Dhaka, Nipa began working at a local embroidery shop. As a single mother, she urgently needed a safe place for Sadia during her working hours. A neighbour told her about a Traid-funded daycare centre in the Mirpur neighbourhood. When visiting the centre, Nipa was immediately reassured by the caring staff and clean, child-friendly environment, enrolling Sadia in October 2024.
“I am so happy now. My daughter is safe; she is getting proper nutrition and education. I want her to stay here until she turns five. This centre has not only helped me but also helped many other women like me to be independent.”, Nipa shares.
Our continued support of this project will allow more children to access a brighter future through providing safe spaces and breaking down the barriers to education. To date, we have committed £725,500 to this project thanks to everyone who shops at and donates clothes to Traid. You can read more about the daycare centres and the important work by Nagorik Uddyog here.
