‘I never thought, at this age, I would learn something new and earn money again,’ says 58-year-old Sokina Akter, a Rohingya women sitting outside her shelter, made of bamboo and tarpaulin on 15X10 square feet area, in one of the displaced camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar camp. With trembling but confident fingers, she weaves a fishing net; a skill she learned recently through a life skill training programme by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
She proactively sells her fishing nets, which she produces, at the wet market within the camp.
For Sokina Akter and many others like her, life took a different turn when they were forced to flee their homes in Myanmar and start to live in the camps of Cox’s Bazar, camps that have been in place since 2017. The loss of their livelihood and home plunged them into despair and left them facing an uncertain future. But slowly, with continuous support from government and humanitarian organizations, they started rebuilding their lives - with dignity, skills, and hope.
Skills That Foster Livelihood and Dignity
Through different vocational training programmes, both men and women in the camps are now learning income-generating skills including fishing net making, tailoring, barber training, homestead gardening, plumber training and chicken rearing. These initiatives teach practical skills and help boost confidence and restore self-worth among the displaced population.
Rahima, a 28-year-old mother who recently completed her tailoring course, said, ‘Now I can support my children’s needs by earning some money. When I go back to Myanmar, these skills will help me,’. She now earns a modest income by stitching clothes for other camp residents.
For the men, along with fishing net making training, barber training, and plumber training have become popular, drawing the interest of many. After the training, many started selling fishing nets in the camps. 'When I earn, I feel like I exist,' said 25-year-old Jahid from Camp 11. 'I used to sit idle; now my life feels more dignified.’
A Safe Space for All
The Dignity, Space, Participation, and Access (DAPS) centers have become the heart of the community in the camps. These are designed to be inclusive and accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities and older people. Here, community members gather to learn, share, and heal.
The centres also serve as platforms for raising voices. People can lodge complaints, provide feedback on services, and take part in decision-making processes regarding the support they receive.
‘Never imagined we’d have a place where our opinions matter,’ says Jomila Begum, a female volunteer at the centre. ‘Before, decisions were made about us, without us. Now, we feel heard.’
Awareness of gender-based violence, sessions on anti-trafficking, life skills training, psychosocial support and sessions on rights and responsibilities are regularly held in these centres. They are safe spaces where people especially women, adolescent girls and children can feel protected, express concerns, and seek help when need.
Disaster Resilient Shelters
As the camps face multiple hazards- including seasonal landslides, storms, floods, heavy rainfall, lightning, and fires; the government and humanitarian organizations like IFRC have played a vital role in strengthening disaster preparedness. They’ve supported the construction of resilient shelters, provided essential safety equipment, and trained displaced communities, helping the communities become more prepared than ever before.
‘Earlier, we used to panic when we heard of a storm. Now we know what to do.’ says Jubayer, a volunteer from the displaced community during emergency responses.
Why It Must Continue
Humanitarian work goes beyond addressing immediate needs - it’s about restoring dignity, enhancing resilience, and laying the foundation for long-term development. Above all, it is about offering hope. For displaced people living in fragile conditions in the camps of Cox’s Bazar, support such as shelter, healthcare, clean water and hygiene, life skills training, and disaster preparedness serve as vital lifelines.
During a recent visit to Cox’s Bazar, IFRC Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Alexander Matheou, emphasized the focus of the Red Cross and Red Crescent’s humanitarian activities: 'They’re about dignity, about security, and long-term hope,' he said.
“Maybe someday I can return home… but we haven’t lost hope. With a little help by learning new skills; we can rebuild our lives when we go back,” says Sokina Akter.
A heartfelt plea for hope that the world cannot afford to ignore.
