Life-changing community shops
Transform Trade has begun to help create 100 community-owned shops called Sadaipati in Bangladesh – and the inspirational women running these shops are transforming their communities.
“Sadaipati has also made the women in the area more confident about their own abilities. And as I previously told you, lots of women are encouraged to see our venture flourish and they too dream and aspire to build some business of their own.”
Sriti Rani, community-store manager
Sriti is the manager of her local community-run store (Sadaipati), which is making goods more accessible to local people - they no longer need to travel 10km to their nearest market to buy household necessities - but that’s not all...
Sadaipati is changing opportunities for women, by challenging gender norms and fighting social exclusion; a place for families to come together and invest in a more equal future.
Sriti has ambitious plans to take on more business training and expand the shop, and she is encouraging other women in the community to plan their own ventures – they often reach out to her for advice.
“It can be called as a hub for the women of this area. In the coming days, we hope this socializing will further help our women community to solve their problems, innovate new ideas. And our store will become a platform for initiating community-run projects for local development. This shop is a platform for women to make their voice heard.”
Eva Rani, co-runs a community-owned shop
“Now we can call ourselves proud shop owners. This is not a small feat in a low-income area like ours. These 30 women have a running business under their names, and they feel extremely proud of their accomplishment.”
Rani Das, helps run a community-owned shop
