Sunita B.K.

Sunita B.K. is a 30-year-old woman originally from Rupa Rural Municipality Ward No. 2, Srikotan, Kaski district, in western Nepal. For the past eight years, she has been living in her maternal village, Chitepani, Ward No. 5 of Madhya Nepal Municipality in Lamjung district. She is a mother of two children – a son and a daughter – who are 10 and 8 years old, studying in grade 4 and grade 2. Like any mother, her biggest dream is to give her children a better life and a good education.

However, life has not been easy. With no stable source of income, Sunita struggled to manage daily expenses. Hoping to improve their future, she took a loan and sent her husband to Saudi Arabia for work. It has been three years since he left, but his earnings are still not enough. The burden of loan repayment, household expenses, and her children’s education continues to weigh heavily on her. Despite feeling helpless at times, she never gave up, because as a mother, she knew she had to keep going.

One day in the month of Mangsir (November), while returning home from Bhorletar, Sunita noticed two unfamiliar people talking with some women in Chitepani. Curious, she approached them, initially thinking they were from a cooperative. But when she learned they were from an organization working to support women, her interest grew.

 

As she listened, she realized that the organization was helping women like her; those who wanted to do something in life but never had the opportunity. The idea of becoming self-reliant sparked a sense of hope within her, something she had not felt in a long time.

They announced another meeting the next day at 11 a.m. Sunita eagerly informed her friends, and six of them arrived early for the meeting. There, their trainer, Gauri ji, explained the purpose of the program. One statement deeply touched Sunita’s heart: “Until women become self-reliant, even to ask for five rupees they must depend on others. That is why the family’s financial condition remains weak.”

Sunita felt as if those words described her own life. At a time when her husband’s income was not enough and she constantly worried about expenses and her children’s future, the arrival of Slisha and its WAWCAS program in her village felt like a blessing. For the first time in a long while, she felt genuine hope.

In the following sessions, she learned that the program focused on social transformation and economic empowerment for poor and disadvantaged women, along with business development and capacity building. It felt like a door of opportunity had finally opened in her life.

During activities like wealth ranking and social mapping, Sunita began to understand her economic reality more clearly. She had never before thought about terms like “ultra-poor” or “poor,” but now she could see her situation more honestly. As her name was placed in the ranking, many thoughts ran through her mind. She silently prayed for a chance to be part of the program.

After one meeting, Gauri ji visited Sunita’s home. Sunita felt shy and nervous, as she lived in a small house made of bamboo walls and a tin roof given by her parents. But Gauri ji’s kindness made her feel comfortable. She explained that the program was meant especially for women who truly needed support. Their open conversation made Sunita feel seen and understood.

That day, Sunita began to dream again – dreams of starting her own business, standing on her own feet, and supporting her children. For the first time, she could clearly imagine a different future.

Soon after, she joined the 7-day WAWCAS training. On the first day, she woke up early, completed her household chores, sent her children to school, and walked to the training hall with excitement and nervousness. It was her first time attending any training, and everything felt new.

The training began with a creative introduction activity called “paired pictures.” Instead of simply introducing themselves, participants found partners with matching pictures and shared personal details like likes, dislikes, fears, and memorable experiences. Through this, Sunita made a new friend and experienced a deeper human connection.

The group then set rules to make the training effective and shared responsibilities. Sunita was assigned to evaluate the third day’s activities, which gave her a sense of responsibility and confidence.

Throughout the seven days, she participated in various games and learning sessions that were both practical and meaningful. One of her favorite activities was the “Big Fish and Small Fish” game, which taught her the importance of strategy, awareness, and smart thinking.

Another powerful realization came from activities like the “color-touching game,” where she learned that the strengths needed to succeed already exist within us. Instead of comparing herself with others, she understood the importance of recognizing and using her own abilities.

The training also taught her that although changing lifelong habits is difficult, it is possible with determination. This message gave her courage to believe in her own transformation.

One of the most valuable lessons for Sunita was business planning. While filling out her business plan, she could clearly visualize her future enterprise. She learned about investment, profit, and loss, which made her feel prepared to take the next step.

Another life-changing concept was the Pocket Chart Analysis (PCA) exercise, which helped her understand how to manage and reduce unnecessary expenses. Before this, she never kept records of the money her husband sent. When he asked about expenses, she had no answers. But now, she understands the importance of maintaining financial records, not only for better management but also for strengthening trust within the family.

Sunita feels deeply grateful to the WAWCAS team for providing her with this opportunity. With the support of 25,000 rupees from the program, she is committed to starting her own business based on her plan.

This journey has transformed her life. From being shy and afraid to speak in front of others, she has become confident enough to express her thoughts openly. Today, she not only continues to learn but also shares her knowledge with others.

And now, when she looks at her children, she no longer sees only responsibility – she sees possibility. She sees a future where her son and daughter will not have to struggle the way she did.
She sees a home where there is not just survival, but dignity.

There are still challenges ahead, and the road is not easy. But Sunita is no longer the woman who once felt helpless and dependent. She is a woman with courage, skills, and a clear vision. She has begun to stand on her own feet – and with every step she takes, she is not only changing her own life but also shaping a brighter future for her children.

Her journey is no longer defined by hardship alone. It is now a story of strength, hope, and transformation – a story that reminds us that when a woman rises, an entire family rises with her.