As Sapna was devastated, she was compelled to become a domestic help at a house.

But fortune smiled on her when a Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) official detected her in a survey conducted in the area. He enrolled her as a trainee of DAM Vocational Training Institute (VTI) in Gazipur. There she underwent a three-month skill development training (SDT) course on Knitwear Trade.

On completion of the training, she got a job at the initiative of DAM officials and became an operator of Cascendra Sweater Factory in Pallabi, Mirpur. She is indeed doing very well and earning Tk 1,500 each month. Products of her factory have good global markets, especially in European countries.

Similar are the stories of Sonia, 20, of Modern Sweater Factory, Bilkis, 22, of SN Sweater Factory, Baby, 24, of Rana Sweater Factory and Lipi, 23, of Modern Sweater Factory. All of them are inhabitants of slum areas of Biharipotty, Bhasantek, Dhamalkot and Baonia embankment in Mirpur. Quality garment products have a great demand abroad, especially in European countries.

DAM contributes to filling a gap in job training for jobless, under-priviledged, young, semi-skilled jobless garment workers and disabled women aged 18-30 years. They are undergoing skill development training in two vocational training institutes, one in Gazipur and the other in Mirpur in the capital. Skill development courses are being offered to jobless, under-privileged, young, semi-skilled jobless garment workers and disabled women aged 18-30 years. The trade courses are Knitwear Garments, Handicrafts and Leather Crafts. European Union (EU) has been funding the Skill Development Project for Promotion of Bangladeshi Exports in European Union Countries.

As many as 905 women will be able to take training in the aforesaid three trade courses. Since its inception on May 15 in 2006, this programme has benefited 786 women. About 482 women were employed. Of them, 285 were employed in export oriented garment industries at the initiative of DAM and 197 others were self-employed. At present, 160 women are undergoing training in three trades in the third batch.