Success Stories of CREA Project
Satkhira is the most disaster-prone district in the south-western coastal region of Bangladesh. Shyamnagar is an upazila of Satkhira District under Khulna Division and is located at the extreme south-western corner of the country. It is the 1st largest upazila in Bangladesh. Almost every year, the people of this area are affected by severe disasters such as salinity, tidal surges, saline water intrusion, irregular rainfall, and drought. As a result, the scarcity of safe drinking water is acute in this region.
In the Burigoalini and Gabura unions of Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira District, the Local Environment Development and Agricultural Research Society (LEDARS), with financial support from the Government of Sweden and cooperation from Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), has been implementing the Community-Based Resilience Women’s Empowerment and Action (CREA) Project since March 2023. The programme is being implemented in collaboration with civil society, local government institutions, and relevant government departments in line with project needs. Under this programme, LEDARS has been carrying out various initiatives aimed at climate change adaptation, women’s empowerment, the establishment of women’s rights and dignity, and the improvement of livelihoods. At the same time, greater awareness and a more proactive role have been observed among the general public and local government institutions/departments regarding the rights of women and adolescent girls.
The changes brought about among project beneficiaries and the local community through various programme interventions have been visually documented and reflected in the publication titled “Beyond Barriers: Voices of Changes.” Each story highlights aspects of transformation and success in the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. Through the described interventions, the project has played a significant role in preventing violence against women, addressing and reducing gender-based violence, preventing child marriage, stopping sexual harassment, responding to and adapting to the impacts of climate change, promoting climate-smart agricultural production, implementing income-generating activities, ensuring women’s rights and protection, and establishing equality with dignity under the theme “Building Equality with Dignity.”
We sincerely thank the local administration officials, Union Parishads, guardians, teachers, kazi, imams, and civil society leaders associated with this project. We also express our heartfelt gratitude and thanks to Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and the Government of Sweden.
Mohon Kumar Mondal
Executive Director
LEDARS
Munshi Ganj, Shyamnagar, Satkhira