Nine young women who once spent their days inspecting garments, operating sewing machines, and supporting production lines are now carrying textbooks instead of fabric samples, walking through university corridors instead of factory floors. This isn’t a fairy tale — this is the remarkable reality made possible by collaboration between Team Group and Inditex.
Nishat Anjum Nijhum was junior quality inspector, Sumaiya Akter was junior quality inspector,
Sumaiya Misu was junior operator, Mousume Akter was junior operator, Nipa Moni Akter was junior needle issue girl and Mumtarin Ferdous was employed as peon at 4A Yarn Dyeing Ltd, a concern of Team Group.
While Trisha Moni was junior quality inspector, Tania Akther as junior quality inspector, and Sumaiya Khatun was employed as operator at Gramtech Knit Dyeing Finishing & Garments Industries Ltd, another concern of Team Group. They all are now attending classes at the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Chattogram.
The workers completed higher secondary education (HSC). But after the HSC they dropped out and for taking responsibilities of their families they entered the jobs. Graduation was their cherished dream which they thought would never be fulfilled.
Their dreams come true when Team Group announced Inditex scholarships for its female workers to study at the university. Through exams they were found eligible to study in the graduation course. Team Group facilitated the whole assessment process and guided them throughout the exam period.
They already started classes at the AUW. They enrolled there for 5 years – 2 years foundation course and afterwards 3 years graduation course. During the 5 years course, Inditex will be taking care of their tuition fee, lodging, food and monthly stipend to support their families.
Deputy Managing Director of Team Group Abdullah Hil Nakib said: “I really hope to see them successful in the coming years. And also like to see all of them as stars in the unlimited sky of Team Group.” “When these individuals will complete their degrees and return to Team Group, they won’t be walking back to the same positions they left. Rather they’ll return as officers, managers, and leaders. This is what empowerment looks like when it moves beyond words into transformative action”, he added.
