By Kohima Daring

Debdas lives in a remote village in Bangladesh. His village’s location on the Bay of Bengal makes it susceptible to natural disasters, like cyclones and floods. Despite the challenges of extreme weather, when one visits the village and gets to know the locals, one does not see their vulnerability but instead the village’s resilience in the face of adversity. Debdas is the epitome of the determination that overflows in this village. He has a physical disability but does not let that prevent him from generating income to support his family.

In 2018, through World Renew, Debdas joined a Village Savings and Loans (VSL) group that members named ‘Bonoful’. He was excited to join the group and participate in learning opportunities facilitated by World Renew’s local partner, Faith in Action. Debdas plays a vital role as the group’s secretary and has become a confident and well-respected leader. Debdas also leads group meetings and is instrumental in the planning and execution of group events. Through his membership in the group, Debdas learned how to become an exemplary leader and an effective entrepreneur. He also learned how to set aside savings for the future and was able to access low-interest loans. He took out a loan so he could set up a fish farm. After he paid back that loan, he took out another to expand into crab cultivation, which helped him increase his income. Debdas is thankful to have the assistance of this group. He says, “It not only helped me develop economically, but also brought me social acceptance and respect.”