Dutch news paper TROUW’s coverage on Suma Akter, a Rana Plaza Survivor – towards a new horizon! As the coverage is in Dutch, we have written the story of Suma and Mintu in English....you must read!! Suma Akter is one of the Rana Plaza survivors that CDD has worked with. She might have escaped death but the burden of her trauma will remain perhaps forever to haunt her and cause her pain. She is petrified even today upon entering into built structures. Whenever she is inside a building she feels she is falling and falling and falling – a fall which has no end! Most of the nights she can’t sleep and if she is left alone in a room she will scream and cry out of fear. This severe trauma has forced her to leave job in a garment industry or to seek a job in the future. But she is not facing this challenging situation alone. Her in-laws, especially her husband has and is supporting her to the maximum of their ability. The love her husband has for her might surpass many true love stories and works of fiction. One needs to meet and converse with the couple to feel this love. Tears often flow from her husband eyes when he tries to describe the events of 24th April, 2013, the day that Rana Plaza collapsed. He mentions he couldnt even think of living a day without his wife. The seconds, minutes and hours prior to locating his wife were the worst moments of his entire life. At the end of the day, he luckily found his wife Suma severely injured in a hospital. For seventeen days and seventeen nights while Suma received treatment in the hospital he was with her every second. On the 18th day Suma was released from hospital and they went back to their home. During all these days he was so deeply involved taking care of his beloved wife that he didnt remember or think about inform his office. Naturally he lost his job. Now he is determined, he will never ever leave his wife alone ever again. His wife and his family is the most important thing in his life. They received some compensations, which were never enough. Besides, compensations without a plan for the future will never yield a sustainable solution to their problems. They needed to make a regular income to survive as a family. Suma was not able to work inside any large building and Mintu (her husband) was not willing to work in any place leaving her wife alone. So they were dreaming of starting a tailoring shop together – where using their skills they will make clothes and earn a living. But it needed a large investment – but they didnt have any saving or access to financial resources. CDD was trying to raise funds to support a few of the Rana Plaza survivors. It was then that TROUW contacted us through Light for the World and expressed their interest to support Rana Plaza survivors in a meaningful way that would positively contribute to changing their lives. Suma Akter is the first person to receive this support which is made up of contributions from the readers of TROUW who bought Fair-trade T-Shirts. Suma and Mintu have now rented a shop, bought new machine, equipment and materials. They are hopeful their new start will result only in progress. We are hoping in anticipation that will be successful and that they can be a role model and a source of inspiration for others. CDD is extending all cooperation to them in this endeavor. A team is assigned for regular follow-up and guidance support as and when required. Our accounts department is extending support to the couple to maintain accounts and make financial plans. CDD expresses its appreciation to TROUW and its readers for the support and, Light for the World for making the link with CDD. We will keep you all informed periodically on the progress that Suma and Mintu makes with time. The photo is of Suma and Mintu and the news paper coverage of TROUW written in Dutch by Astrid van Unen en Mehmet Ülger. - 22nd July 2014
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:18:29 +0000
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