In a remote village of Ward 3, Maheshwaripur Union under Koyra Upazila, lives 41-year-old Morjina Khatun. She shares her humble home with her husband and two children. Her husband earns a living by selling street food from a roadside cart, while Morjina prepares snacks like singara and piyaju at home to support the family. Life has always been a struggle, but the cruelty of nature has often intensified their hardships. Being residents of a coastal region, the family regularly faces the threats of cyclones, tidal surges, river erosion, and salinity intrusion. These recurring disasters not only cause financial losses but also constantly endanger their safety, health, and overall well-being.
Before being included in the project, Morjina’s living conditions were extremely vulnerable and inhumane. Their fragile house would shake even in mild storms. However, a greater concern was the dire sanitation situation — the family had no access to a safe toilet. Women and adolescent girls lived in constant fear of losing dignity and safety, being forced to defecate in the open due to the absence of private sanitation facilities. Using the toilet during daylight was unthinkable — darkness or isolated times were their only option.
Moreover, the family lacked awareness about hygiene practices. Handwashing before cooking or after using the toilet was not a regular habit. As a result, both children and adults frequently suffered from waterborne diseases. The nearby water sources were highly saline and unfit for consumption. Although they tried to collect rainwater during monsoon using buckets, it was never enough to meet their needs.
Despite all these challenges, Morjina never gave up. She remained determined with one goal in mind — to ensure a safe, healthy, and dignified life for her family.
Change began to unfold when Morjina was selected as a project beneficiary. The first significant improvement in her life came in the form of a disaster-resilient concrete latrine. This was not merely a construction — it was a symbol of respect, safety, and security for her entire family.
The latrine, built on a strong foundation, drastically reduced health risks and ensured a safe environment for women. Girls who once lived in fear and shame could now use the toilet confidently, even during the day. For Morjina, the latrine brought light into her home — a light of dignity, comfort, and confidence.
As part of the project, she also participated in hygiene awareness sessions, where she learned about proper handwashing, safe water use, food hygiene, and menstrual health management. These lessons brought a transformation not just in her own life, but also empowered her to share the knowledge with other women in her neighborhood. Those who once saw her as a quiet and helpless woman now seek her advice. She actively participates in community meetings, speaks up about women’s issues, and shares her experiences — today, she is not just a beneficiary, but a symbol of women’s leadership.
Although Morjina’s family did not receive a rainwater harvesting system from the project, she utilized her knowledge of hygiene to develop her own coping strategies. She now knows how to preserve water, the importance of handwashing before meals, and how to teach her children the value of cleanliness.
Today, Morjina Khatun is no longer confined by fear and helplessness. She is aware, confident, and active. Her family uses a safe toilet, which has significantly reduced disease outbreaks. Hygiene practices have improved, and her daughters now feel much safer and more respected.
To the community, she stands as a role model an inspiring woman who has turned adversity into progress.
In her own words, Morjina Khatun says:
“I used to constantly worry about my daughters and other women we had no toilet, no dignity. Now we have a proper toilet and awareness. I can proudly say my family lives with health, safety, and respect. I wish for all women around me to receive the same support and become aware like me.”
