Some stories remind us that even in the deepest darkness, the human spirit knows how to find light.
Mariam’s story is one of those powerful reminders — a story of loss, resilience, and transformation.
A Childhood Swept Away by Poverty and River Erosion
Mariam grew up in a small village along the banks of the Padma River. Her childhood was marked by hardship, poverty, and uncertainty. When her father fell seriously ill, the family’s struggles intensified. Poverty forced her to leave school, and the dreams she once carried slowly faded away.
Then came the river erosion.
The Padma swallowed their home and everything they owned. With nowhere to go, her family moved to a cramped slum in Dhaka, where every day was a battle against hunger, loss, and shattered hopes.
A New Beginning Through Hashimukh
Life eventually gave Mariam a second chance.
Through Hashimukh Somaj Kallayan Songstha (HSKS), she returned to school and stepped into a new world of learning, safety, and hope. More importantly, Hashimukh helped her discover a talent she never knew she had — creativity.
Through Hashimukh’s skill development programs — including handicrafts and artisan training — Mariam began learning how to make diaries, flower vases, jewelry, and decorative items. What started as simple training slowly became:
- A means to support her father’s treatment
- A source of financial stability
- A tool for building her confidence
- And a bridge to a new future
Mariam is no longer the timid girl who once feared speaking. Today, she dreams of starting her own small workshop someday.
Turning Tetra Packs Into Eco-Friendly Diaries
At Hashimukh School, students drink milk daily — milk delivered in tetra packs. These packs, once discarded carelessly, accumulated and created long-term environmental pollution because tetra is non-biodegradable.
But Hashimukh chose a different path.
Instead of throwing them away, the team began collecting, cleaning, and transforming these tetra packs into beautiful, eco-friendly diaries.
The process includes:
- Collecting used tetra packs
- Washing and sanitizing them
- Cutting and processing the material
- Turning them into durable diary covers
- Finishing with creativity and handcraft skills
What was once a symbol of waste and pollution is now a symbol of sustainability, creativity, and empowerment.
A Powerful Shift: Waste Into Skill, Skill Into Opportunity
This initiative does more than protect the environment. It:
- Gives disadvantaged children a new skill
- Helps families earn additional income
- Builds self-confidence in young learners
- Inspires others to think of waste differently
- Promotes a culture of sustainability and recycling
Students like Mariam are writing their own stories of change — one handcrafted diary at a time.
The Hashimukh Impact: More Than Just Education
Hashimukh School continues to support underprivileged children, teenagers, and youth through:
- Free education
- Nutritious meals
- Health support
- Skill development
- Creative empowerment
- Environmental awareness
Where others see trash, Hashimukh sees potential.
Where society overlooks a child, Hashimukh holds their hand and helps them rise.
From protecting the environment to reducing poverty, from building skills to creating self-reliance — Hashimukh proves that small efforts come together to create big social change.
