Mini’s Dream Is Not Mini-It’s Mighty

A mother’s strength fuels a son’s future in rural Gaibandha

June 3, 2025

A woman in pink attire sits behind a small shop, surrounded by jars and colorful products. — Mini sits inside her vibrant tea and grocery stall in Gaibandha, a business built from resilience and support through the SWAPNO programme, helping her secure her son’s education and her family’s future.

©UNDP Bangladesh

“I never counted my own struggles, as long as my son’s education continued, that’s all that mattered.” – Mini, Gaibandha, Bangladesh

In a quiet corner of northern Bangladesh, where opportunities are limited and dreams often go unspoken, a mother named Mini held onto one strong hope: that her only son would break free from the grip of poverty through education.

Life was never easy. As a single mother in a village of Gaibandha, Mini faced constant challenges. But her determination never faltered. Her turning point came when she joined the Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities (SWAPNO), a national social protection initiative run by the Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Embassy of Sweden and Marico Bangladesh.

A woman in a pink shawl interacting with two young goats and an adult goat outdoors. — Mini tends to her goats in Gaibandha, the first step in her journey toward financial independence through the SWAPNO programme. This livelihood helped her transform hope into opportunity.

©UNDP Bangladesh

SWAPNO provided temporary work, training, and access to savings groups for rural women like Mini. With her earnings, she bought a goat. That single investment grew into a small herd. Then, using savings and proceeds from a local community lottery, she expanded her tiny tea stall, now the only shop in her neighbourhood and a central hub for the community.

More importantly, the income helped her achieve what she once thought impossible: supporting her son through school. Today, he has passed his higher secondary exams, a major milestone that opens the door to college and opportunity.

Mini’s journey is a powerful reminder that real change happens when women are empowered with tools, trust, and opportunity. Her story echoes a global truth: when you invest in women, you uplift entire communities.

Mini’s dream is proof that small steps, fueled by resilience and support, can lead to mighty transformations.