In Sylhet, Bangladesh, where flooding has become increasingly regular, mother-of-two Shely is leading a quiet but powerful fight against climate change.
Sylhet suffers from regular flash floods, which often last months. These floods destroy crops, homes and livelihoods, leaving many families with no choice but to move to the inner city.
Once there, they face dangerous living conditions, particularly in hillside settlements at risk of deadly landslides.
Shely’s life has been shaped by this harsh reality. A decade ago, after climate-related challenges ruined her family’s income, she had to leave her hometown of Kulaura.
Abandoned by her husband, she arrived in Sylhet city with her 2 sons and almost nothing else. “Some days, I didn’t know if we’d have food,” she says. Shely survived by working as a day labourer, struggling to make ends meet.
Sylhet’s regular flash floods often last months and cause widespread difficulty
A new hope: the ICRA project
In 2023, Shely’s fortunes began to change. She joined a Self-Help Group (SHG) through Islamic Relief’s Scaling-up Inclusive Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Communities through Locally Led Adaptation (ICRA) project. The group offered a space for women to learn skills, support each other and take control of their futures. Recognised for her determination, Shely became chair of her SHG.
“We didn’t know how to claim our rights before,” Shely says. “But now, we are stronger. We’ve learned to work together, manage our own funds, and support each other.”
One of the group’s key achievements has been setting up an emergency fund that provides interest-free loans. With a small loan, Shely started a mushroom cultivation business, earning enough to support her family and inspiring other women to follow her lead.
Shely Begum with her cultivated mushrooms
Breaking the cycle of poverty
Shely’s success with mushrooms is not just a personal victory, it also marks a shift in her community. The SHG’s work has enabled women to start small businesses and break free from debt.
“We can borrow 10,000 (64 GBP) to 15,000 Taka (97 GBP) to start our own ventures now,” Shely explains. “I began with mushrooms; others have their own businesses. We’re all better off.”
As Shely’s leadership has grown, so has her influence. She now advocates for her community with local councillors, ensuring they get the services they need.
Recently, she helped secure the installation of 6 sanitary latrines for her group, improving hygiene for many families.
Education is also a priority for Shely. She’s working to bring adult literacy programs to her community, believing education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. “It’s never too late to learn,” she says. Shely also encourages girls to stay in school and is a strong voice against child marriage.
Shely Begum attends the weekly SHG meeting
The fight ahead
For Shely and many like her, climate change is not an abstract concept but a daily struggle. Her journey from a struggling mother with few resources to a community leader is a reminder of how vital grassroots action is in addressing the climate crisis. “We may be poor, but we are not powerless,” Shely says. “We’ve learned how to organise and demand what we need.”
As COP29 comes to an end, Shely’s story serves as a reminder that the fight against climate change starts on the ground, with communities like hers.
With your support, Islamic Relief can continue to help communities like Shely’s in Bangladesh and beyond. Please donate to our Global Emergencies fund today.
