Introduction to this Project

Background information on this project:
In 1995, a young widow living in rural southwest Bangladesh told documentary filmmakers, "My days of silence are over." After her husband had passed away, Shupjon had experienced abusive treatment from other men in the village since she was no longer tied to a man. She had been mocked, disparaged and then raped. Afraid of further abuse, she remained silent about her trauma, until members of an empowering grassroots NGO called Uttaran reached out to her. With Uttaran's guidance and support, Shupjon finally spoke out against her abusers, pressed charges against the man who raped her and had him put behind bars. Taking further advantage of Uttaran's resources, she founded a cooperative tile factory.

Her story and the story of others empowered by Uttaran's programs are told in the 1996 documentary film created by Oxfam America and directed by Michael Sheridan called “Community.” (clip of this film found here) I am now going to Bangladesh to do a follow-up documentary on Uttaran's work to trace how the lives of individuals like Shupjon have continued to be impacted by the training and financial resources Uttaran offers.

What is Uttaran?
Uttaran, which means 'upliftment' in Bangla, originated from the efforts of students and professors who wanted to stand up for poor women in rural villages of the Satkhira district in southwestern Bangladesh. Many women in rural Bangladesh are considered property of their husbands; any actions they take independently from their spouse is deemed sinful and often responded to with violent punishment. Shaidhul Islam, the founding director of Uttaran, established the organization as an official NGO in 1985. Uttaran's broad goal of working towards social and economic empowerment of poor and disadvantaged people in southwest Bangladesh is implemented in part through educational programs and microfinance initiatives. These efforts offer individuals and groups the opportunity to start their own businesses to pull themselves and their families out of poverty, helping to strengthen their whole community. (Books on this topic: Women and Microcredit in Bangladesh, Aminur Rahman; Reshaping the Holy: Democracy, Development, and Muslim Women in Bangladesh, Elora Shehabuddin; Banker to the Poor: Micro-lending and the battle against world poverty, Muhammad Yunus)

Why do a documentary on Uttaran?
Uttaran's work is inspirational and can serve as a model for other organizations to follow in fighting global poverty. By doing an updated documentary on Uttaran’s impact on individuals and communities, I can present ground-level insight into how Uttaran’s initiatives are effective and sustainable in fighting poverty. On a more general level, this documentary could contribute to a growing understanding of microfinance in third world countries and how grassroots non-profits operate, the obstacles they face and structures they take on to achieve their goals. On a personal level, this project will help me determine if I want to pursue a career in Visual Anthropology, which involves working on documentaries on cultural and social issues.