The Situation

Bangladesh has a population of just under 175,000,000 and is one of the most densely populous countries in the world. There are 5,000,000 widows in Bangladesh living in a culture where women depend largely on their fathers and husbands for financial and social well-being. If a widow is not financially independent, there is a far greater vulnerability leading to poverty, exploitation and social isolation.

The Objectives

The Widows' Cause started a project in Dhaka in December 2022. They sponsored 10 widows with small interest-free loans to grow their struggling businesses. Eighteen months later, 110 widows have been sponsored and there is the potential to impact 500 widows in the area. The project provides:

• Interest-free repayable loans which enable widows to startup businesses to make them economically independent in time. Local teams identify the widows and assess their needs. Once capabilities and the feasibility of the projects are assessed, loans between $150 – $250 are advanced. This is repaid in monthly instalments, generally over 12 months. Second and third loans may be given once the first loan is repaid, after further assessment. 
• Training, ongoing supervision and encouragement for the length of the loan.

“It is an opportunity, not charity, which puts responsibility and purpose back on the widow to make it life-changing. A sense of ownership and purpose gives them hope for a brighter future for them and their children,” says Gay Canham, founder of The Widows' Cause.