They say it's the darkest before the dawn. Mrs. Nasreen saw the darkest of times before turning her life around. Resident of Ranipur, Sindh, Nasreen has come a long way but it was not always this easy. Now earning a decent living, she keenly gives back to the society by imparting her wisdom to others. "I have five daughters and they all know how to sew. I believe that girls should be equipped with some skill to support themselves in times of need" says Nasreen.
It began when her diabetic husband lost his eye sight making him incapable of being the bread winner of the household; the responsibility to turn the wheel of life fell on Nasreen's shoulders. With a heart disease eating away at her, she had to find a way to take care of her family.
With no other opportunity in sight, Nasreen stumbled upon Khushhalibank's micro financing scheme. Determined to make an opportunity herself, she secured a loan of PKR 10,000/- and started her entrepreneurial journey. Utilising the skill she knew best, she invested the money in sewing machines and began to sew clothes.
"It was slow at first, but my perseverance never faltered" she recalls. It took her a while to get a loyal clientele but now, she has established her place as a talented seamstress. She has extended her business to designing and selling ready-made dresses, earning Rs 10,000-12,000/- per month. The courage to not be defeated by seemingly insurmountable physical and financial challenges has helped her make her mark.
Her next goal is to establish a sewing institute where she can teach her craft to others to create a more conducive environment for those in similar predicaments. "Having the support of Khushhalibank at my back, I am sure this institution will be up and running in no time," Nasreen adds optimistically. In a society like Pakistan, where there is a social stigma attached to women stepping up and taking financial ownership of the family, her way of thinking is a commendable step towards women empowerment.
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