Wars and international disputes always bring suffering to ordinary people. After the Bangladesh war of independence in 1971, thousands of Bihari people living as refugees in Dhaka were not allowed to return to Pakistan. Social exclusion and lack of formal citizenship in Bangladesh made it impossible for them to get work.

Tearfund’s partner Heed was inspired to create employment opportunities for the Bihari people in handicrafts production using locally available resources. More than 30 years on, an estimated 10,000 people have had access to training and employment as a result of Heed’s activities. But it is not really about big statistics – it is about the changed lives of individuals.