Kantha Bae + Basha - Gift of Hope

Kantha Bae
We are raising $50K over the next twelve months to build a facility that will get 50 women survivors off of the streets, provide them with full-time jobs, childcare and the support they need to reach their goals. #kanthabaegifthope

This is our chance to come together and change the lives of 50 moms across the world.

Please conside donating or sharing our fundraiser on social media. Use #kanthabaegifthope to follow along. 

- Our Story - 

Kantha Bae is an online handmade shop that sells gorgeous products that support the work of women survivors in west bengal. We have partnered with Basha Boutique over the past few years to get their beautiful fabrics into the hands of women around the world. Our work together has provided dozens of women survivors with full-time jobs and safe care for their children.

Basha is looking to expand the number of lives they can impact, and we would like to help. A portion of all sales from Kantha Bae are being donated to this cause, and we are asking our community to join in with support.

- About Basha - 

Basha Enterprises Ltd , a social business based in Bangladesh, creates a distinctive range of home textiles, jewellery and accessories. Basha textile products feature a traditional Bengali technique known as Kantha, the straight, even stitching together of layers of saris. Through dignified work, Basha provides a sustainable livelihood for women at risk and survivors of trafficking. Women gain job skills and the opportunity to develop into leaders and entrepreneurs in a healthy, healing, supportive environment. Today, driven by the needs of the many thousands of women in Bangladesh who are forced into lives they are deeply ashamed of, Basha passionately continues to create alternative opportunities one job at a time – through sales of our life-giving, one-of-a-kind products.

- Artisan Stories - 

Please take a moment to read a few stories from the incredible women behind the beautiful products you see here at Kantha Bae. We will be running this fundraiser over the next 12 months, and hope that you will donate what you can.

My name is Asma. I am proud that I have a job at Basha Enterprises. The relatives from my mother-in-law’s house did not show any respect to me. But now that I have started working, they have changed their view toward me. Now they call me if they want to make any decisions. They value my opinions.

Having money allows me to buy whatever I want for my children. I do not need to ask everything from my husband. I have two daughters. I want my elder daughter to be a doctor. She will serve poor people. And my younger daughter will be a lawyer. She will promote justice in our society.
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My name is Yeasmin. I work in the jewellery department of Basha Enterprises. I am my husband’s third wife. My husband left me without any notice. Left alone with my three children, I could not pay my rent or even buy food for my children. I had to run away from my landlord because I could not pay my rent.

I borrowed money from others to feed my children. In this situation I came to Basha’s partner organization, CUP. I had many kind of sickness and CUP had helped me recover from this illness. I have never received the amount of love from anyone that I got from CUP. I received training in life skills and many other topics like child protection, nutrition, and literacy. My life has been changed through these trainings. My husband also has returned. I have hope for my future.

I choose to work at Basha Enterprise because I do not want my children to be abused like me. Basha Enterprises provides daycare for my children.  During my work time my children can be at daycare where they are safe there. I enjoy my work here. I am paying back my debt. I am also saving money for my children’s education expenses. I believe one day they will be educated and have a better life.
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I am Swarna. I work in the textile department of Basha Enterprises. I took training from Pobitra. At the time of my wedding, my mother promised them to give the dowry, but she couldn’t give. For this reason, my husband and mother in-law used to beat me severely. One day I ran away from my mother in-law’s house. I was crying helplessly and a staff from Pobitra found me in the street and she took me with her at Pobitra. At that time, I was pregnant. After finishing my training at Pobitra, I couldn’t join them for work because there was no space. I started working as a house helper. My mother took care of my son. My mother wanted more money from me. When I couldn’t give her money, she used to bring other men at home so I could sleep with them and earn extra money. I didn’t like to do that, but my mother forced me. When I didn’t want to listen to her, she used to beat me. I became pregnant again through one of those men who came to my home. My mother abused me and I had no place to go. One day, Pobitra found me and brought back to their office. Through them, I got to work at Basha Enterprises. I love this work very much. Here, I have my honor. There is dignity in this work. I want to earn money through a dignified work. I hope that my son won’t know of my past. I pray that my son will be educated and get a good job.
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I am Sonia. I work at jewelry department. I had a very painful childhood. Whenever I remember my past I burst into tear.I got married at a young age. My husband was very abusive. My in-laws also tortured me for dowry. My husband wanted to have a baby boy but I gave birth to a baby girl. After giving birth to my daughter my husband became more abusive. I could not bear any more.I ran out to my mother’s house and divorced him.

 When I came to Basha’s partner, Children’s Uplift Programme, I felt it was like heaven to me. They have helped me in many ways. I received different kinds of training which helped me to dream for a bright future.

 I joined Basha Enterprise to fulfill my dream. My daughter is safe here. My childhood was not happy so I want to protect my daughter. I do not want her to suffer like me. I love working at Basha. Their rules and service both are good for us. I want to save money for my daughter’s future.
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My name is Ruksana. I’m twenty five years old. My husband left me with a big amount of debt. I must pay the installments every week. To pay the loan installments I previously had to do shameful jobs.

 But now I’ve a good job at Basha. Now I can earn respectfully. I want to work hard and earn a good amount of money every month to repay my entire loan amount. Besides, I would like to raise my daughter as a good human being.