Success Story: Anika Akter – Turning Creativity into Sustainable Entrepreneurship

Contributed by Nari Maitree

Anika Akter, a 22-year-old entrepreneur from Chand Uddyan, Mohammadpur, Dhaka, lives with her mother, Rasheda Begum, and her younger sister, Anisha. While pursuing her second year of undergraduate studies, Anika dreamed of creating something unique that would allow her to become financially independent. Inspired by her creativity, she ventured into making handcrafted wooden jewelry.

Her journey began with a simple experiment at home. Using discarded wooden pieces and broken bangles, Anika crafted a pair of earrings and a bracelet. She shared photographs of her creations on social media, where they quickly attracted appreciation from friends and relatives. Soon, she began receiving orders, marking the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey.

Determined to grow her business, Anika started selling her handmade jewelry in parks and roadside markets across five different locations in Dhaka. She also launched an online business page and regularly participated in handicraft fairs, gradually building a loyal customer base.

Alongside her entrepreneurial ambitions, Anika was passionate about community development and women's empowerment. She wanted to engage with other young women and contribute to positive social change. In 2022, she connected with Nari Maitree through the Youth Empowerment for Social Transformation (YES) Project, supported by Educo Bangladesh. With guidance from Nari Maitree, she established a youth club comprising 50 adolescents and young people, now known as the Katasur Kishor-Kishori and Jubo Club, which actively implements community-based initiatives.

Reflecting on her experience, Anika says:

"After joining Nari Maitree, I realized that collective action can truly create positive change."

Recognizing her creativity and commitment, Nari Maitree encouraged Anika to participate in various entrepreneurship development activities, including handicraft workshops, exhibitions, and networking events. These opportunities helped her enhance her skills, expand her professional network, and connect with other women entrepreneurs.

Like many young entrepreneurs, Anika faced significant challenges during the early stages of her business. Limited startup capital and a lack of experience in digital marketing made it difficult to establish her enterprise. With support from Nari Maitree, she received initial financial assistance and mentoring. She also invested time in learning new product designs, improving her craftsmanship, and strengthening her production and business management skills.

Within just one year, Anika's wooden jewelry business gained remarkable recognition. Today, she earns between BDT 50,000 and 80,000 per month. Her products are widely appreciated at local handicraft fairs, and her entrepreneurial journey has been featured in several online news platforms.

Looking ahead, Anika hopes to train fellow youth club members and other women, enabling them to develop income-generating skills and achieve financial independence.

In her own words:

"Creativity and courage are the greatest assets of my business. It is not easy to prove yourself as a woman, but it is not impossible. Every day, I keep trying to move forward."

Anika's journey demonstrates that determination, creativity, and the right support can transform challenges into opportunities. Despite limited financial resources and numerous obstacles, she has built a successful enterprise while inspiring other young women to pursue entrepreneurship. Today, Anika is more than a business owner—she is a role model, community leader, and a source of inspiration for aspiring women entrepreneurs.