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The chapter from Scott MacMillan's book, 'Hope Over Fate,' tells the transformative story of Shahida Begum, a woman from Bangladesh who overcame poverty after receiving support from BRAC. Initially struggling after her husband's death and working for meager wages, her life changed when she was given goats and training, which she cherished deeply. By 2019, Shahida had built a stable life with land and a home, illustrating that providing opportunities can empower individuals to escape poverty and regain hope.

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2 views1 page

Blog

The chapter from Scott MacMillan's book, 'Hope Over Fate,' tells the transformative story of Shahida Begum, a woman from Bangladesh who overcame poverty after receiving support from BRAC. Initially struggling after her husband's death and working for meager wages, her life changed when she was given goats and training, which she cherished deeply. By 2019, Shahida had built a stable life with land and a home, illustrating that providing opportunities can empower individuals to escape poverty and regain hope.

Uploaded by

onlicss69
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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A Story of Changing Fate: Reviewing "The Fox That Killed My Goat"

I just finished reading a very emotional chapter of Scott MacMillan's 2022 book, Hope
Over Fate. The chapter focuses on Shahida Begum. She lives in the panhandle of
Bangladesh's far [Link] struck me most about her story is how getting just the right
type of support can totally flip a person's life upside down, but in the better way.
Life was unfair to Shahida from the very beginning. She was forced into marriage at the
age of eleven. Then, around the year 2000, her husband suddenly passed away from a
heatstroke. Suddenly she was completely alone with zero income. But she had to survive,
therefore she started working at a nearby brick factory doing this back-breaking job of
transporting mud. They paid her a mere 12 taka a day. The most she ever earned in a day
was 25 taka. She hardly had time to eat,so she was basically starving.
Everything changed in 2002 when some BRAC workers showed up. Initially, the village
women were terrified because nobody gives out free things without a catch, right? Some
even worried it was a trick to convert their religion. But Shahida took the risk and joined
their program. She ended up getting five female goats, with some basic training and a small
daily allowance to keep her fed while the goats grew.
What I really loved about this story is the emotional connection shown by the writer.
Shahida treated those baby goats like her own children. She even let them sleep on her bed.
When a fox later killed one of her baby goats, she was absolutely heartbroken and cried
like her own real child had died. That’s where the chapter gets it’s name. The charity staff
tried to calm her down by saying it was just livestock, but they completely missed the point.
For Shahida, losing that animal felt like losing a piece of her own heart.
Fast forward to 2019, and her situation is completely different from before. Because of
those first few goats and some ongoing advice, she now owns land, lives in a solid brick
house, and even has electricity. Poverty does not just mean you don't have money; it
completely kills your confidence and makes you hopeless. Handing someone a goat or a
small cash allowance does a lot more than just feeding them. It gives them that hope that
they need to fight their way out of the dark. Overall, Shahida's journey is a great reminder
that people trapped in poverty don't really need our pity,they just need a fair chance to
build their own lives

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