Sura’s journey with Children’s Uplift Programme

Bangladesh in South Asia

When Sura was trying to survive on the streets of Dhaka, she could never have imagined how SIM Bangladesh’s Children’s Uplift Programme (CUP) would transform her life.

Sura*, now 28, is a trainee in CUP. She has overcome many challenges and has been working hard in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Now Sura has completed her training and just recently got a job with SIM’s business partner Basha Enterprise Ltd.

Sura’s four-year-old son was the biggest motivation for being regular and consistent in attending the CUP. It is a joy to see this brave young woman standing now on her own feet and being able to provide for her son’s wellbeing.

She is the third child of five and her father, a poor farmer, wanted all his children to attend school so they could have a better life than his own. Sura remembers with gratitude her father’s care and protection. Unfortunately, he suffered a sudden brain stroke that left him paralyzed and unable to work anymore.

At the age of just 14 years, she was sent to Dhaka city and started working in a garment factory, where she spent most of her salary supporting her family in the village. Sura worked hard for eight years until she was summoned by her mother to go back home for an arranged marriage.

Her mother had chosen a young man for her in their own village. She says, “We were happy during the first months of marriage. My husband was a daily labourer.”

After some time, he started to change his behaviour and become neglectful in providing for the family. Things got worse when, after two years of marriage, Sura gave birth to their son. Her husband would verbally and physically abuse her whenever she asked for necessary things, like food or medicine for the little baby.

Desperation made her go back to Dhaka and try to find a job in a garment factory once more. Her husband decided to join her, and along with their small child, they reached the big city together. 

This time she could not get a job because of her baby; then her husband decided to part ways and abandoned the family. Her only option was begging in the streets for money to live.

But a divine appointment made a former CUP trainee notice Sura’s pain and suffering as she was walking by. She invited Sura to CUP's drop-in facility to find out about CUP’s services, and she eagerly joined that same day.

Support Children’s Uplift Programme

CUP works with vulnerable women and children who live or work on the streets of Dhaka to offer safety, holistic development, and the good news of the gospel.

The staff and trainees are grateful for your prayers and support to keep services running. Can you donate to help women and children find a better path in life? Visit our donation portal, locate your nearest office, and use project number 98336 to make a gift.

Pray for:

• More divine appointments so assistance can reach those in need in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• Sura to come to know Jesus as her saviour. Ask God to help her also thrive in her job with Basha and support her son.

• CUP as they navigate limitations due to the pandemic. Pray the staff is encouraged and refreshed by the Holy Spirit while they diligently serve children and their mothers.

*Names changed.