After her husband’s death in 2007, Kulsum became the sole bread-winner for her family of four.

After her husband’s death in 2007, Kulsum became the sole bread-winner for her family of four, which included Sumi Akter, then 12, who was sponsored by Children’s Hope. Kulsum set up a home-based business with the help of a micro credit loan. Initially, she bought sewing equipment with that money and later took further loans totalling US$1292 (£1050) to boost her business. Today, Kulsum’s business is well settled and enables her to meet all of her essential family needs. Her daughter Sumi graduated last year.