Geeta Praska, a 35-year-old homemaker from the village of Bhujabala, struggled to make ends meet with her family. Her husband’s daily wage of just $3.12 barely covered their basic needs, leaving their future uncertain. Despite the challenges, Geeta always dreamed of finding a way to support her family financially, but opportunities seemed out of reach.
When our HDF(Human Development Facilitator) assigned in that village. He visited all households and discussed about their community issues and facilitated with community people to resolve their issues through Participatory Human Development Process (PHDP). When he facilitated community meetings, women were encouraged to explore ways to generate income. Geeta attended these sessions, eager to contribute. She mentioned that there are few women had learned tailoring years ago but had never been able to practice it because they had not own sewing machines.
With the facilitation of HDFs few women prepared request letter and submitted to resource institutions to access the sewing machines. As a result three women accessed sewing machines from Literacy India. Among them Gita Praska is one. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for Geeta. With her machine, she began stitching blouses, sarees, and clothes for villagers, using her skills to start a small business.
Today, Geeta earns an average of $25.25 per month from her tailoring work. This additional income has brought stability to her family, easing the financial burden and giving them hope for a better future. Geeta is grateful for the support she received from the PHDP and Outreach India, which helped her turn her skills into a sustainable livelihood.
Her story is one of transformation and empowerment. Geeta now dreams of learning more advanced tailoring techniques and increasing her income to further improve her family’s situation. Through her journey, she has not only changed her own life but has also inspired others in her community to take steps toward self-reliance and prosperity.
Geeta’s experience shows that with the right support, even the smallest opportunities can lead to significant change. She is proof that a sewing machine and determination can stitch together a brighter future.