A Determined Entrepreneur

Kavita, a 33-year-old caring mother of five from Padri Goth in Sanghar District, has demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination in overcoming challenges. Even though her education only extended to the 8th grade, Kavita bravely assumed the responsibility of supporting her entire family. Her inspiring journey started in 2006 when she got married. Back then, her husband brought home a modest income of 9,000 rupees a month as an assistant to a cable operator, which was just not enough to meet the family’s needs.

In 2015, she took a brave step toward securing her family’s financial future by borrowing 10,000 rupees from Thardeep Microfinance (TMF) to buy a sewing machine. She started sewing clothes from the comfort of her home, slowly but surely saving up to support her household. As her business blossomed, Kavita wisely reinvested her earnings and obtained additional loans between 2016 and 2019, ultimately saving enough to buy a cable operation setup for 500,000 rupees.

Even though there were challenges due to losses in the cable operation setup, Kavita’s determination remained as strong as ever. In 2023, she bravely decided to take out a loan of 50,000 rupees to start her business selling garam masala items, focusing on essential spices such as black pepper and cumin seeds.

Today, Kavita’s husband works at an electricity company, where he earns a solid 30,000 rupees each month. In the meantime, Kavita’s entrepreneurial spirit is thriving! Her sewing business brings in 10,000 rupees a month, and her delightful garam masala venture adds another 30,000 rupees. Together, they’re enjoying a wonderful combined monthly income of around 70,000 rupees.

Kavita’s incredible hard work and determination have truly changed her family’s life for the better! Now, her children have excellent opportunities to pursue their education: her 17-year-old son is happily navigating 11th grade, her 15-year-old daughter is enjoying her time in 8th grade, her 13-year-old daughter is shining brightly in 4th grade, and her 10-year-old daughter is having a great experience in 2nd grade.

She feels deeply thankful to the Thardeep Microfinance Foundation for recognizing her potential and offering the financial support that has made a real difference in her life.

Kavita shares, “My life has undergone significant changes.” She adds, “From being very poor, we are now comfortable.”

Looking to the future, Kavita plans to open a sewing center with her next loan amount.

Rising above Adversity

Rizwana is a resilient and determined woman from the charming community of Mehar Tehsil in the Dadu district, and she truly inspires those around her. She is happily married to her cousin Ubedullah Gaan, a former army retiree who now works as a security guard. Together, they are nurturing their six wonderful children—three daughters and three sons—who are all actively pursuing their education. In 2008, Rizwana took a significant step towards her entrepreneurial dreams by securing a loan of Rs. 10,000 from the Thardeep Microfinance Foundation (TMF). Inspired by her early success, she borrowed another Rs. 10,000 in 2009 to expand her blossoming clothes business. Her hard work and determination truly paid off, leading her to borrow Rs. 8,000 in 2014 to further invest in her venture. Over the years, Rizwana’s dedication has won her the admiration of her community, encouraging her to dream even bigger. By 2021, she had significantly grown her business and taken a substantial loan of Rs. 300,000 from TMF to establish a delightful shop selling stitched and unstitched dresses for women and children.

In 2022, Rizwana faced unexpected challenges when devastating floods swept through her region, impacting many lives. This catastrophe not only forced numerous people to relocate but also caused some of her customers to miss payments, resulting in significant losses for her. Unfortunately, the financial pressure led her to close her shop temporarily. Yet, Rizwana’s steadfast spirit remained strong. With a renewed sense of determination, she reconnected with TMF in 2024 and successfully secured a loan of Rs. 300,000. This time, her focus was on stabilizing her shop and reviving her business.

Today, Rizwana’s shop is thriving once again, and she has become an inspiring role model for her daughters and other women in the community, earning a steady monthly income of 55k to 60k rupees. Her journey exemplifies the remarkable power of perseverance and hard work in overcoming even the most daunting challenges. Rizwana feels deeply grateful for the support she received, crediting TMF for believing in her potential and helping her transform her dreams into reality.

“I am truly grateful to Thardeep Microfinance for helping me to become a successful entrepreneur,” she shares. “Their support has not only inspired me but has also encouraged other women in my community to chase their dreams.”

Stitching Dreams

Geni Bai, a 44-year-old mother of five from Umerkot, vividly remembers the struggles her family faced living in poverty, dwelling in a small hut made of wood and leaves. Despite her husband’s modest income from running a donkey cart, it was barely enough to sustain their household expenses. With two of her eldest daughters married off due to difficult circumstances and her son and daughter pursuing education, Geni harbored a passion for sewing, envisioning it as a potential livelihood.

However, financial constraints prevented her from acquiring a sewing machine, an essential tool for her trade. Undeterred, Geni turned to Thardeep Microfinance Foundation (TMF) for support in realizing her dream. With TMF’s assistance, she applied for a loan of rupees ten thousand to purchase a sewing machine, and the process was smooth, accommodating her financial capacity.

Equipped with her new sewing machine, Geni’s venture began to take shape as she offered stitching services to her community. Over time, her clientele expanded, and so did her income. With prudent saving habits, she was able to purchase a rickshaw for her husband, who now earns a steady income operating it. Furthermore, she utilized her savings to build a sturdy brick house for her family, significantly improving their living conditions.

Through eleven loan cycles and strategic investments in sewing machines and livestock, Geni’s monthly family income skyrocketed from five thousand to sixty thousand rupees, transforming their quality of life. Her success story not only underscores the transformative impact of microfinance but also highlights TMF’s role in empowering individuals to achieve sustainable livelihoods and economic stability.

From Homelessness To Entrepreneurship

Salma a 29 year old entrepreneur lives in Jhudo town, Mirpurkhas. Salma’s life has been full of challenges and hardships. At the age of twelve she was married to a 46 year old man.

“That was a nightmare for me. I was separated from my mother and moved from my village to the city where my husband worked as a farmer. I also had to work with him in the fields to meet our expenses,” says Salma.

Her husband died at the age of 57, leaving behind Salma and her four children. “Those were very hard days. I was unable to pay utilities and feed my children. Our landlord refused to let us live in the rented house. We used to sleep at the railway station and had nothing to eat. It was very hard to see my children crying of hunger. But one day, I ceased to think of all the hardships we suffered and made up my mind to struggle for a better life. I told myself: ‘Yes, everything is in me. If I am negative, then things won’t work out. If I am positive, then I can tell myself that I am capable of achieving anything…. Read More

Renewable Energy For Entrepreneurship

Ranomal lives with a joint family of fifteen at Village Malo Dhani near Naukot. Ranomal had a dream to study and become a teacher, but he could not fulfil his dream because his family was poor and he had to work at a young age. His father also used to work on agricultural fields to provide for the family.

“I was thirteen and did labor work all day and would get Rs. 50 to buy food for our family” says Ranomal. “I got married in my early twenties. As family expenses increased, I went to Karachi to work in a garment factory. The factory was in a polluted area and the hygiene conditions were also bad. I worked there for six years and fell ill. I suffered from kidney stones and my chest was also badly affected. I was admitted to Civil Hospital in Karachi. Those were very critical days for my family. We had no savings and due to his old age, my father could not work. My wife used to make pillow and mattress covers and sell them to meet our expenses.

After about a year I recovered and my health improved. I came back to my village. I was surprised to see that my wife had built a good Pillow and Mattress Cover business. She used to sew them with her hands. I had also learnt sewing when I was in Karachi. I thought if we buy a sewing machine we could both make more products in a shorter time and earn more money… Read More

Parti’s Determination
Ms. Parti a 38 years old entrepreneur from Umerkot is an example of courage and commitment. She was engaged to Ashok when she was only three years old. When she was nine, her family learnt that Ashok had a mental disease but the village panchayat (council) decided that the engagement could not be broken so Parti had to marry Ashok. They got married in 2001 and she moved to Ashok’s home. After 16 months, Ashok’s brothers threw them out of the house. Ashok was not earning even a single penny to provide for his family. Parti decided to take a lead in earning a living. She pawned the jewelry received in her dowry to a local money-lender for Rs. 20,000 at a monthly interest rate of six percent. She purchased a plot for Rs. 14,500 and constructed a hut (Chaunra) with mud and thatch. From the remaining money, her brother recommended that she start a firewood business… Read More