Mim wants to live in a Safe and healthy Environment
Name: Mim Akhter
Mother's Name: Laiju Begum
Father's Name: Anwar Bhuiyan
Age: 14 years
Address: Bhatarkhal Colony, Barisal City Corporation, Barisal
Number of Family Members: 8
Background: Mim Akter's village is in Pakor Guichcha village of Barguna district.
Background
Mim Akter's village is in Pakor Guichcha village of Barguna district.
Nearly 20 years ago, Mim’s life changed dramatically when river erosion destroyed her family's home. Displaced and with nowhere else to turn, she and her elder sister moved to Barisal city in search of work and stability. Mim came from a family of four siblings, with their father earning a modest living as a rickshaw puller.
Despite her aspirations and early education, Mim was forced to drop out of school while in the third grade due to the family’s growing financial crisis. With few options available and the burden of survival weighing heavily on the family, Mim entered the sex industry at the age of just 10 to help support household expenses.
Her experience reflects the difficult realities faced by many children in Bangladesh and other vulnerable regions where poverty, displacement, and lack of social protection push young girls into exploitative situations at an early age.
Mim’s story is not just a narrative of hardship, but also a call to action. It highlights the urgent need for systemic interventions focused on child protection, education, and livelihood support for families affected by climate displacement and chronic poverty ensuring that no child is forced to trade their future for survival.
AVAS has been actively working in our community for a long time through various development programs. Recently, AVAS representative Laiju Apa organized an awareness meeting with adolescent girls and their parents to inform us about the cervical cancer vaccine. Initially, many of us didn’t give it much importance. But once we understood that the vaccine can prevent cervical cancer and was available free of cost, there was a positive response.
A large number of adolescent girls in our colony received the vaccine. While I’m personally not afraid of injections, I know many girls who are. Thanks to AVAS’ motivation and support, even those who were scared were encouraged to get vaccinated. Another major challenge we faced was the lack of birth registration, which is required for vaccination.
AVAS supported us in completing the registration process, enabling many unregistered girls to receive the vaccine. Moreover, Laiju Apa went beyond expectations—she arranged transportation at her own initiative, taking girls aged 9 to 14 to the vaccination center and ensuring they returned home safely after receiving their doses. We are genuinely grateful for
AVAS’ efforts. Their dedication has made a real difference in our lives and in the future of our daughters.”
Mim shared, “I haven’t yet been able to plan what I want to do in the future. For now, we continue to live in our neglected colony, where the environment is extremely unhealthy and difficult. Despite these challenges, we have no choice but to stay.
I am truly grateful to AVAS, UNICEF, and the government for showing concern for our health and well-being. It means a lot to us that someone is thinking about people like us, who are often forgotten.”
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