A successful entrepreneur

Mujahidul lost his father when he was only 15-years-old. The family was helpless. Mujahidul stopped his study and joined the workforce to help support his four family members.

Md. Mujahidul Sheikh, 25, lives with his two brothers and mother in Kolatola union under Chitalmar upazila of Bagerhat district. His mother Kamona Rahman is a house wife. His brother Salman Sheikh, 18, is studying in grade 12 and another brother Sumon, 14, is admitted in grade 9.

In 2007, World Vision Bangladesh Chitalimari programme area started a project for childrean who had already dropped out of school.

The programme identified Mujahidul and suggested a that he attend a cell phone servicing training. He agreed to their proposal, and started the 45 days training. He successfully completed the training and returned to his village.

Unfortunatley he had no assets, no cash, to start a business on his own.

So he took loan 30,000 taka (about USD $385) and purchases some tools for the mobile servicing. Renting a small shop at the locality, he started cell phone servicing business.

When Mujahidul was just 15, he left school to join the workforce to help support family.

He proved himself a very good mechanic in his community. His business expanded and he paid back in the full the loan he took to start his business. Later he purchased a computer so that he could easily install various software in cell phones.

Mujahidul became a young entrepreneur. His success inspired a number of young people to the cell phone servicing profession. He even arranged training for cell phone servicing and 24 people took the training.

Like Mujahidul, World Vision empowered many people to become employed in Chitalmari upazilla in the southern Bangladesh.

Mujahidul monthly earning is now 20,000-22,000 taka (about USD $260). He is spending 7,000 taka (about USD $90) per month for his brother’s education. Besides bearing his family's expenditures, he also is saving 3,000 (about USD $40) per month.

Mujahidul‘s desire is to create employment opportunities for people in need in his community. He thanked World Vision Bangladesh for showing him hope and a new avenue for his life.