Client Profiles

During the spring of 2007, the co-founders of ASAP spent 5 weeks traveling around the world researching programs that have been successful in reaching and serving some of the poorest families in the world. They visited BRAC in Bangladesh, Bandhan in India, Jamii Bora in Kenya, SEF in South Africa and Saving for Change in Mali. As a part of their research, they interviewed numerous individuals that were or had been living in extreme poverty and explored what these individuals were doing to escape it. The persons profiled below are just a handful of those that were interviewed.

Name: Bagum      Country: Bangladesh      Program: BRAC

Bagum, a mother of three children, is a widow whose husband died 8 years ago due to illness. Before she joined BRAC, she was a day laborer, working long hours for low wages.  Bagum did not have any property or any other assets.  She was so poor that no one respected her.  When she asked, no one would help her.  She was virtually alone – never asked to participate in social or cultural events.

In 2003, Bagum joined BRAC.  She was determined, by BRAC, to be one of the poorest individuals within her community and was invited to participate in the organization’s program for the Ultra Poor.  Through BRAC she was given agricultural as well as basic business skills training and was then given a small plot of land to cultivate. 

She was able to sell the vegetables and rice that she harvested and eventually purchase additional assets with her profits, including a cow, a sewing machine and additional agricultural land for farming.

She currently has over 3,000 Taka ($45 USD) in savings, and is successfully running her small farm and her tailoring micro enterprise.  In addition to her financial success, she has been able to make progress in other areas of her life.  She is now invited to social events and is able to receive help when she asks for it.  She has earned the respect of peers and of herself.