How Moneca’s Entrepreneurial Dream Uplifts 12-year-old Dhighi’s Life

NAOGAON, Bangladesh - “Papa, hurry up!” Dhighi turns around to call her dad, Md. Mazed Ali Mondol, as they walk to Mst. Moneca Begum’s UNICEF-supported latrine business. It is the only latrine business in the village.   

The 12-year-old’s footsteps quicken and her eyes spark as she sees Moneca. Even though usually quiet, Dhighi can’t contain her excitement. She has dreamed about this moment for the past six months and relentlessly badgered her parents into getting a new latrine. A better toilet at home means she won’t need to find another toilet outside and risk getting hurt.  

“Our previous toilet was not good. It had a bad smell and attracted many insects,” remembers the sixth grader.   

Dhighi doesn’t feel safe 

For months, Dhighi has observed the sanitation business shop, where Moneca and her husband, Md. Hatim lay out neat rows of self-made pit latrines1 in various styles and colors. The shop is next to the village’s main road - one adorned with towering white bark trees and children’s giggles. Walking by it every day, Dhighi knows that other families in her village have been purchasing latrines from Moneca. 

“I saw good latrines in other houses,” says she. “In our school, the teachers also told us we should use clean toilets and maintain safe toilet hygiene.” 

Yet, for the longest time, Dhighi didn’t feel safe and comfortable using the toilet at home. Her house is small, and the smelly latrine, infested with insects, was just two steps away from the open-door kitchen where she helped her mother prepare meals.     

Wanting a clean toilet, Dhighi decided that she must change her parents’ minds. She started convincing them with all sorts of reasoning and even announced that she would leave the house.  

Even though hearing her, at first, Dhighi’s parents were reluctant and skeptical.   

“We didn’t have enough money at that time. And we also didn’t understand the benefits of a good latrine,” shares Mazed. Working as a vegetable seller in the village’s market, he is the family’s breadwinner. 

“But Dhighi was regularly sick back then with stomach problems like diarrhea,” recalls Dhighi’s mother, Amina Bibi.   

In rural Bangladesh, while open defecation has almost ended, having a clean toilet remains out of reach for many, especially for low-income families like Dhighi’s. Often, family members in a household share a broken latrine, putting children in direct contact with human waste, contaminating groundwater, and contributing to the spread of diseases.  

While purchasing a new latrine is a huge investment, Amina and Mazed want the best for Dhighi. If they already feel swayed by their daughter’s determination, seeking advice from Moneca affirms that Dhighi is right. They need quality sanitation and hygiene, not only for their daughter’s health, but also for safety, mental well-being, and education. 

A woman entrepreneur who changes her village  

  At 40 years old, Moneca is well known in Dhighi’s village as a female entrepreneur who makes a life for herself. She is quick-witted, hard-working, and most of all, resilient in the face of hardships.  

Her business, during its initial days, wasn’t easy. Moneca took a huge risk to pursue entrepreneurship.  

“I was very poor and saw that people were selling these things. For the seed money, we had to sell off our livestock. I collected and bought some materials to make the latrines at home,” recounts Moneca. “The initial sales were really bad.”   

Moneca poured all her heart and money into the work; she even made the latrines herself after observing her husband a few times. Yet, she didn’t find the results that matched her ambition until a few years ago. Since she joined the UNICEF-supported SanMark Systems Development project, the business has taken off. 

 “When I received training from UNICEF and its partner IDE, I started making these latrines and had success,” says Moneca. “During the training, I learned that un-hygienic toilets release smells, attract insects and cause different diseases. So, we started making toilets with covers. We were also taught where and how to install these pit latrines, how to maintain safe hygiene, how to paint, and many things else.” 

With partners, UNICEF has contributed to the empowerment of micro-entrepreneurs such as Moneca in 25 districts in Bangladesh. This in turn benefits local economies, increases community awareness of safe sanitation practices, and creates more demand for hygienic sanitation products.  

Importantly, it improves the overall well-being of children and their families. In Naogaon, the success of Moneca’s business has impacted her community, and ultimately the life of Dhighi.  

“People can say many things because I am a woman who runs a business. But my business has done good for many people,” adds Moneca proudly. “Even if I no longer receive support from the project, I am still confident about running and expanding it.” 

My dream is to become a doctor 

Holding her father’s hand, Dhighi closely examines each pit latrine. Sometimes, she even takes off her brown slippers and carefully walks on each latrine’s surface. Finally, she chooses a white-tiled one with a pink floral pattern. 

“I feel great when I see the new latrine because I go to the shop and choose it myself. It has tiles and it is colorful,” says Dhighi. 

Now, Dhighi can feel safe and comfortable using the quality toilet at home. She won’t have to go outside to find another toilet, where she may face dangers walking alone. She won’t feel left out, nervous, or sick. And above all, she won’t miss school and can focus on studying to achieve the dream she has harbored since one of her siblings passed away.  

“I want to become a doctor in the future,” announces the second top in her class.  

UNICEF wishes to express sincere gratitude to Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation for their continued support and immense contribution to the well-being of children in Bangladesh.