August 2025
Warm greetings to everyone,
I hope you are all doing well. This is me, Dudh Kumari Gurung, writing to share how I am doing, and thankfully, I am also in good health.
The monsoon season is always a bit challenging for us farmers, because it rains almost all the time. Whether we like it or not, we must keep working in the rain. Life in the village is like this—there is always some seasonal work waiting for us.
I sold out my pig and earn 35,000 rupees from which I bought again small piggery and some goats therefore, just today, I went out to cut the grass, and as I was returning, carrying the bundle, I suddenly saw Sunita coming toward my goat shed. I thought I would first drop the grass in the shed and then greet her properly, but she smiled and said, “No need to sit inside the house, I came here to meet you.”
So, I carried on feeding the goats with the freshly cut grass, and Sunita joined me there in the goat shed. She asked me warmly, “How are you these days? How is your business going?”
I replied that everything was going well and that my business was running smoothly. She then took time to observe not only my household but also my goat shed and the small business I am managing. I felt truly happy that she had come all the way to see my work, and even more so because she gave me valuable advice and encouragement.
I could not help but compare my life now to what it was before I became part of the WAWCAS group. Back then, no matter how hard I worked, my labor felt meaningless. I never got free time, and I never felt ownership of the work I was doing. It was as if I was working endlessly, but with no sense of value or reward.
But today, things are completely different. After joining WAWCAS, I feel a deep sense of happiness and pride because the business I am running has grown out of the seed money I received from the group. Now, the income I generate truly belongs to me. The harder I work, the more I earn, and this motivates me to put in even greater effort.
This is not just a feeling—it is also a reality. I have already seen the changes in my life. By being part of this group, I have learned so many new things and grown in confidence. Alongside my business, I have also been able to increase my savings. The opportunity to do business has brought with it many other benefits: knowledge, skills, financial discipline, and a sense of independence.
Despite still being busy with household chores and farm work, I can now manage my time in such a way that I am able to give proper attention to my own business too. This has given me a new, separate income—something I never had before. In the past, no matter how many hours I spent working, I never felt ownership, and there was no personal gain.
Now, although the work is just as hard and the hours are just as long, the difference is enormous. The sense of ownership, the joy of earning for myself, and the pride in being able to save has filled my heart with enthusiasm. My energy and motivation to work have grown so much more than before.
That is why I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved in running the WAWCAS Program. It has truly transformed my life. With the pace I am moving forward now, I hope and expect that I can continue to run just as strongly in the future as well.
I am determined to give continuity to this group and to keep growing as a capable, independent, and successful businesswoman.
With that commitment, I would like to end here for today, with a promise to meet again in the next blog next month.
Thank you.