At just 19 years old, Janaki Kumari Ram from Sakhuwanankarkatti Rural Municipality-5 in Siraha District is already rewriting what’s possible for young women in her community.
As the eldest daughter in a low-income farming family, Janaki grew up with dreams larger than her circumstances. After completing her Secondary Education Examination (SEE), she had to step away from school to care for her siblings and support her parents in the fields. Her ambition to continue her education was set aside, another casualty of economic hardship and gendered expectations.
But Janaki never stopped dreaming.
In 2023, a turning point came when she joined Enterprise Learning Classes (ELC). This was part of CARE Nepal’s broader initiative to strengthen women’s economic empowerment in partnership with the National Farmer’s Group Federation (NFGF). These sessions didn't just teach her about business; they ignited something inside her.
“I learned how to see myself as more than just a helper at home. I started imagining myself as a businesswoman,” Janaki shares.
With no tailoring center in her village and a clear gap in the market, Janaki saw an opportunity. Supported by seed money from CARE Nepal and NFGF, she purchased a sewing machine and materials to launch her own tailoring enterprise. From her modest setup at home, she began sewing clothes for women in the neighborhood, offering them not just products, but personalized service, quality, and convenience.
“I maintain my account book. I know how much I earn, how much I spend. This income supports our household expenses, and my parents encourage me to grow,” she says with pride.
But Janaki’s story didn’t stop there.
As she became more confident in her business skills, she noticed yet another unmet need in her community: a beauty parlor. With CARE’s support under the UDAAN program, implemented in collaboration with Samagra Janutthan Kendra, Janaki enrolled in a beauty parlor training course. She also participated in a two-day session to revise her business plan and continued attending monthly meetings where she learned from peers and mentors.
“Combining tailoring and beauty services allows me to offer more to the community and earn more too,” she says.
Janaki now dreams of expanding both enterprises. She envisions opening a storefront where women can come for tailoring, beauty services, and even mentorship. “I want to help other girls who were like me, stuck at home, unsure of their worth. If I can change, they can too,” she adds.
Janaki’s journey reflects the impact of targeted interventions that go beyond training. These programs foster self-confidence, financial independence, and social inclusion. Through CARE’s integrated approach, thousands of young women like Janaki are discovering their potential not only as earners but also as changemakers in their communities.
“I am deeply thankful to CARE Nepal and all the partners who supported me. Because of them, I can now dream and work to make those dreams real.”