Aleya Begum: Helping people choose life

For the past 18 years, Aleya Begum, 52, has worked to prevent suicides in Jhenaidah. Going from home to home, she counsels people in distress and holds courtyard meetings with women, encouraging them to face hardship rather than give up on life.

Aleya knows despair herself. Married off at 10, she had to leave school and, following humiliation and hardship at her in-laws’, attempted to take her own life several times.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

During one such attempt, she met NGO worker Mahfuza Begum, who listened to her plight and encouraged her to live. Aleya later received training and began helping others.

Since 2008, she says she has helped over 300 men and women turn away from suicide and counselled at least 6,000 people about its harmful effects. She also raises awareness against child marriage, dowry and violence against women.

In 2016, Aleya received the “Manusher Jonno Manobadhikar” award from Manusher Jonno Foundation for her work.