#HumansCare | Finding Hope Through Community, Rina’s story
Rina lives on the outskirts of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and cares for her niece, Anu, who has an intellectual disability. As Anu’s full-time carer, Rina’s world had shrunk to the confines of her home. Anu's parents – Rina's brother struggling with drug addiction and his wife – couldn’t cope and had left her to raise the child alone, with little to no support.
The weight of 24/7 caregiving had taken its toll. Rina couldn't work due to her caring responsibilities, leaving the family in financial hardship. Fear and stigma kept them isolated – she was too afraid to take Anu outside, worried about how others would react. Meanwhile, Anu remained withdrawn and uncommunicative, showing signs of anxiety and developmental delays.
"Rina’s life was filled with hardships, and she was constantly worried about Anu," a family member observed, "If she hadn't joined the Carers Group, we would never have known that Rina could smile."
Despite the overwhelming challenges, her love and dedication to Anu never wavered.
Finding Support
Everything changed when our local charity partner, Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), visited Rina's home and talked to her about our Carers Project. Recognising her need for support, they registered her with the Sandip Community Caring Centre and invited her to join the Garua Carers Group.
The transformation didn't happen overnight. A staff member at the Community Caring Centre noted, "At first, Rina didn't want to come to the centre. She was afraid to go out with Anu.” But over time, with regular visits from the Community Caring Centre volunteers, she overcame her fears and gradually integrated into the project. She received counselling and participated in group activities, regaining mental strength and resilience.
Through her Carers Group, Rina found something she hadn't experienced in years – emotional support and solidarity with others facing similar challenges.
“Before joining, life felt unbearably difficult, but being part of the group brought me hope and companionship.”
For Anu, teacher Shahida Begum at the Community Caring Centre provided patient, specialised support. Slowly, Anu began to engage with other children, learning to follow instructions and form friendships.
Recognising Rina's desire to contribute financially to her household, the project connected her with skills training. A fellow unpaid carer taught her tailoring, opening up new possibilities for income generation.
Hope for the Future
Today, Rina and Anu's lives look completely different. Anu now attends the Community Caring Centre happily, communicates better, and has formed meaningful friendships – milestones that once seemed impossible.
For Rina, the change has been equally dramatic. She now earns a modest income through tailoring work for neighbours and dreams of starting her own clothing business. She has also regained her confidence and hope for the future.
"I was surprised to see the change in my life," Rina reflects. "I sometimes think why did I not associate with the Carers Project earlier? Now I dare to dream. Thank you to CDD and the Carers Project for this."
Rina dreams of a world where unpaid family carers are recognised and respected and advocates for greater recognition of carers' contributions and for a Carers Allowance. She hopes to expand her tailoring work into a sustainable business and wants to raise Anu to be independent.
Her story demonstrates how targeted support for unpaid family carers can transform not just individual lives, but entire families – creating ripple effects of positive change that extend far beyond what anyone initially imagined possible.
Through community support and the recognition of carers' vital role, Rina has moved from isolation to independence, and from fear to hope.
If you’d like to help us support more unpaid carers like Rina, then please do consider giving a gift. Every donation, no matter the size, will help us continue our work.
