The Happy farmer: a former SOS child from Bagerhat, Bangladesh
19/06/2008
Coconut trees and lush fields run along the road which leads to the new plot of one acre land that Shajadul - a former SOS child - now has his name on. Fertile farm land is not scarce in Bagerhat district in Bangladesh.
Shajadul is now 24 years old and lives an independent life. He grew up in SOS Children's Village Khulna not more than a one-hour-drive from his current home. When he was 16 years old he joined the SOS Children's Village farming project in Bagerhat. "I was a slow learner and not interested in books. I knew I wanted to work with my hands and here most people are farmers, its normal work," he explains.
Fortunately he could move to the nearby SOS Children's Village Bagerhat farming project, where young men receive agricultural training for a total of four years. "I knew about the farm project as they would sometimes come to my Khulna with fresh produce and tasty eggs and milk. Rather than be a miserable student I decided that was where I wanted to go."
"Compared to school it was much better for me. I especially enjoyed the brotherhood of the other boys in Bagerhat and was motivated by learning so much new about dairy farming, fishing, planning - you name it!"
24-year-old Shajadul graduated from the SOS Children farming project in Bagerhat little over two years ago. At the time all he wanted was a wife, some land and a cow in order to start up his dairy production.
"One cow was given to him by SOS Children's Villages as a way to assist him in gaining independence and we also helped him buy the land," Siddique Rahman, the village director from Bagerhat explains.
Everything from his wish list is now secured. Last summer he married 19-year-old Ruma and now the couple lives together in a small house with two rooms, built by Shajadul himself. Ruma is as much engaged in the farm as he is.
They plan to get electricity soon. That will help them get the dairy production going as they need a fan for the dairy shed. Being able to provide electric shelter in the hen-coop will also be nice. Otherwise they currently work in getting the fish pond ready for the monsoon, which will bring much needed water to fill it up.
"I am grateful for all the support I have received in my life and I am interested in proving myself now. I am on my own feet and would like to keep it like that. I am very happy now," Shajadul says.
Relevant Countries: Bangladesh.