October 2024
Namaskar. I am Suna Kasai. I reside in the Tuhuarepasal Ward no 6 of Bhanu Municipality with my son and daughter. Despite having lived here for many years, the past continues to intertwine with the present and future, no matter how challenging it may have been. This means that wherever one goes, their past remains connected to their life.
From the moment my husband married me and brought me into his life, he never really stayed by my side. Occasionally, he would send a little money, but for the last five or six years, he has completely stopped contacting us or showing any interest in our children. When he cut off all contact, it felt like a huge thunderstorm hit me. But I’m not someone to give up so easily. During that time, I climbed many steps of hardship and happiness, though I don’t have a clear account of them.
For my children, I had to play the role of both father and mother, navigating through both joys and struggles, to make ends meet. My husband’s absence left an undeniable void, not only emotionally but also financially. Even though my son and daughter are grown now, as a mother, the responsibility still rests on my shoulders. It was always a challenge to earn enough through small labor work to cover household expenses.
One day, a younger sister from the village told me about an organization called Slisha that had come to our village and shared some information about the WAWCAS program. She mentioned an upcoming meeting of the women, and I decided to attend.
That day, I went to the meeting, and the staff explained what the organization does and how it operates. They detailed how Slisha empowers women like us—women who have the desire to do something but lack the necessary financial resources. They provide a 16 months program with many trainings and offer seed money to start up their business, enabling the women to become economically independant. I was so impressed by this initiative! Hearing about this WAWCAS program, which was designed to support women, filled me with renewed hope. I returned home feeling like a new strength had been added to my heart.
Now that I understood the WAWCAS program, I was eager to join a group and start my journey with WAWCAS. The mere thought of the possibilities ahead filled my heart with joy.
Dear Readers,
Namaskar,
Hi, I am Meera Achhami, and I’m writing the blog for Suna. I will be with all of you for the next 16 months. During this time, I will share Suna’s journey—the ups and downs she experiences as she transforms her life through the WAWCAS program. I am very excited to see her progress, and I’m sure all readers will enjoy her stories.
Warm regards,
Meera Achhami
LPL Tanahun