¡°Phulki¡± meaning ¡°spark¡± in Bengali is a non-profit organization that brings a flicker of light to the lives of disadvantaged communities. We spread the light of hope into the lives of working women who, due to their circumstances, are forced to leave their children at home, often in hazardous conditions, to earn a living. From its beginnings in 1991, Phulki recognized the link between children¡¯s rights and women¡¯s empowerment and the need to ensure a secure future for children while their mothers are working to earn a living. These goals are the pillars for all of Phulki¡¯s activities. It strives for the rights of women and children to be universally recognized and achieved. Through devoting all its resources and energy into working with disadvantaged women and children, Phulki is helping them to see that they both deserve and can achieve a secure, healthy and happy life.

Initially, Phulki focused on the plight of female workers who have migrated to Dhaka city from rural areas, in search of a livelihood. The city does not have the requisite infrastructure and support systems to sustain this large influx of migrant workers. In Bangladesh export oriented garment industry has grown rapidly over the last 20 years to become the primary source of foreign exchange for the country. Over 1.5 million workers are employed in garment factories, out of which, approximately 80% are women. Phulki¡¯s early activities ensured the well-being of the migrant workers and their children who suffered due to poverty and lack of care.