Sweetmeats road to success for physically challenged youth

For many of us, sweetmeats mean a sugar hit: delectable, delicious and delightful. For Abdul Mazid, 28, of Birpoli in Burail union of Bogra's Nandigram upazila, sweetmeats mean a good deal more. Physically disabled from birth, Mazid hopes the sugary treats can be the key to a fruitful and meaningful life.

"Mazid has made himself an expert, as skilled as any sweetmeat maker in the area," says his younger brother Imran. "Making sweetmeats has given him a lot of self-confidence."

Born with small irregular legs, Mazid started working in his father Azizar Rahman's sweetmeats store at Dhundar Bazar in 2006.

"I was able to send him to Birpoli Government Primary School until Class IV," Rahman says, "Unfortunately some locals used to make fun of his disability and in the end, Mazid became fed up with their taunts and wouldn't study more."

"Since my son has been working with me," the father continues, "things have improved a lot. Nowadays, nobody has anything negative to say about his disability and my son is much more comfortable with his condition."

 "I can do a lot with my two hands," says Mazid, who aims for self-reliance. Working alongside able-bodied colleagues, he has developed a reputation for sweetmeat making expertise.

Moreover, Mazid's efforts have been assisting his father to maintain their family's solvency.

While Mazid has been on a disability pension for the last three years, he has bigger goals. "I'd like to open my own sweetmeat shop," he says. "If ever it became possible to access financial support from the government or any kindly benefactor to get started, it's what I'll do."

Social service officer of Nandigram upazila, Shahjahan Ali, says his department has ensured Mozid has access to disability support thus far, and he hopes that, perhaps with help from a benefactor, Mozid can achieve his dream.