According to his family, Foridul was a healthy baby. He started walking at nine months. However, his parents noticed that Foridul walked differently than his five siblings. He staggered and got tired quickly. After examinations he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

As Foridul grew up, his family wanted him to go to school. He attended school until grade six, but he couldn’t keep up with other students and made little progress. He didn’t enjoy going to school. At the age of twelve, he ran away from home and found a job on a cattle farm. However, he could not stay there for long and returned home after six months. His life became increasingly difficult, and his family started to see him as an additional burden.

He worked in a hotel for 10 cents per day. Due to his disability, he was taken advantage of because there were enough other workers who were just waiting for a job. In Bangladesh there are not enough jobs available for all people, especially not for differently abled people. People with a disability receive little or no assistance and face cultural barriers that prevent them from fully and equally participating in social, economic, political, and cultural activities. 

Because of all the walking involved in his job, Foridul started to suffer from leg pain. In 2015 he heard about our project and contacted us. After an admission interview, he was able to join. He enjoyed working in the garden much more than working for the hotel. Till 2022 he worked primarily as a gardener. Today he looks after our cows and goats which he enjoys even more than gardening. 

We are very satisfied with Foridul’s work and attitude. He is a reliable and very motivated. His father recently bought him a rickshaw which he uses to earn some extra money. He also makes trips for us occasionally. His additional income is very welcomed, as he now can contribute significantly to his family’s income. He is a valued and respected member of the family. He also got married last year and lives with his wife in his parents’ house. Foridul’s story is a success story, and his life has truly transformed since joining

our project.