Zaheda

Saleha Akter Urmi; [Facilitator]

Domestic animals at our home (embroidery)

Fultola (embroidery)

Embroidery (EMB)

Decorative

'When the violence started, all our ducks were lost and scattered from our house,' says Zaheda. Zaheda’s sister died when her nephew was born. After that, Zaheda took on the responsibility of raising her nephew, who grew up playing with their aash (ducks.) After coming to Bangladesh, her nephew misses the aash.

When asked what new projects they wanted to work on, the artisans suggested embroidering domestic animals. In Myanmar, the women rarely left their houses and kept chickens, pigeons, cows and goats as pets. Each family had about 60-70 chickens, 30-50 cows and a separate house for pigeons, but now they are not allowed to have pets in the camp. They never had to buy meat back home, but when they go to buy meat at the camp they are reminded of the animals they left behind. This project is a way for the women to portray and document their beloved pets left behind in Myanmar, so that the future generation can see them.