Sharada, 28, has been living in the informal settlements of Gairigaun in Kathmandu with her husband and toddler daughter for two years. Her small family survives on her husband’s monthly income of NPR 10,000 (USD 100). As a hardworking person determined to support her family, Sharada began working as a house helper for NPR 7,000 (USD 70) monthly. However, she decided to quit as she did not feel valued and respected at her place of work.
Sharada heard about the training program in Gairigaun conducted by BRAC for making cleaning supplies and she decided to participate. Soon she was practicing at home and selling products like phenyl and liquid soap in recycled plastic water bottles that she gathered around her neighborhood.
Sharada and her six fellow trainees began to cultivate regular customers and realizing that her products were quite popular, she asked Nepal Mahila Ekata Samaj (NMES) to provide some financial support to start her own business. Sharada, whose initial income was NPR 4000, states “Now I earn NPR 15,000 a month.”
With the input support from BRAC through its implementing partner NMES and customer feedback, she now has started her own label of cleaning supplies called “Chamkilo Safai” or Bright Cleaning. The new label and packaging have enhanced quality assurance for her products enabling her to receive more orders. Next, she plans to obtain a Permanent Account Number to officially register her business.
Sharada is very delighted and grateful to BRAC for creating a safe place for her to enhance her skills.
