Case Study One

Youth generation facing unemployment, jobs, teenage pregnant, reproductive and sexual health, mental health and spiritual and many… This is the story of determination, of self-belief and of how availability of appropriate support makes a world of difference. This is the story of a woman who in very difficult times did not let go of her will to improve the living condition of her family and in these most testing times kept on looking for that one opportunity to turn around their situation and how with the timely support managed to convert her dreams into practical reality. This is the story of Kulsoom who resides in village Ali langah. Their family was passing through very difficult times economically as they had no source of earning, her husband was also unemployed and they had to meet the basic needs of daily life. We were very poor and my husband was also unemployed our situation was very bad and we did not know what to do. We were living totally hand to mouth. Kulsoom however had carpet weaving skills and wanted to use them to earn some living for her family and improve their living conditions, what she required was initial capital so that she could benefit from the skill. She got loan of Rs:8,000/- from NRDP for carpet waving. I had acquired carpet-weaving skills from my family and I also knew that it could fetch us good money but I required some capital to start the business so I searched for a source that could provide me this very crucial support and then a neighbor told me about NRDP credit program. As she searched for a source a neighbor told her about the NRDP Micro Credit program so Kulsoom decided to attend one of the group meetings of NRDP where the CO told her about the programme and the criteria of eligibility for acquiring credit service from NRDP. This was the opportunity that she was waiting for so long Kulsoom went back and discussed it with her husband. I attended the meeting and was thrilled because this was the opportunity that was the missing link, it was a dream come true credit at doorstep with very reasonable conditions and no hassle. After discussing it with her husband Kulsoom became a member of the credit group and applied for loan. Once she received the loan she got the necessary material to make carpets, she bought a loom and wool and started making carpets. Her elder daughter assisted her in this work. The husband supported in marketing the product and taking to other cities especially Lahore. At last Kulsoom’s persistence and belief in her self and the collective support of her family bore fruit and they started getting regular orders and established the carpet weaving enterprise. It cost us about RS. 6,000 – 7,000 to make the carpet and would easily fetch rupees 10,000 – 12,000 in the market, thus at last our income generation started and could now plan things thanks to NRDP.

Not only this but as her husband went to Lahore several times to sell the carpets he saw that there were ready-made garment for children that were available in whole-sale at very reasonable prices this gave an idea to him to buy these clothes and sell them in his village and to near by areas as there was no such outlet and people had to go to other cities to buy which was costly, so this gave birth to yet another business within the family and on every trip Begum’s husband would bring children’s ready-made garment in whole-sale and then sell them in the village they displayed these garments in their home. My husband bought these clothes from the income we made from carpets and we displayed these in our home the response was very good so this way we started this other business of selling ready-made garments as well and this increased our income two folds.

This way Kulsoom had double affect of the credit facility that she availed from NRDP and it totally turned around their living condition. I and my sisters were very fond of going to school but we could not do so because we could not afford it but now after taking credit from NRDP and starting our business I made sure that at least my sisters go to school and thank God now we can afford their education and all the younger ones go to school. “Nasreen” (Kulsoom’s Elder Daughter). Now both Kulsoom and her husband are running their enterprises in a collective manner from the credit that was availed from NRDP and she has paid all her installments in time. We paid all our installments on time so that others could also benefit from this facility, which I think has definitely changed our lives, and of so many others like us. It was impossible to get credit and that too at your door step without hassle but NRDP made it possible for us and we all need to help them extend this facility to as many people as possible and work as a team. Thank You NRDP, we owe it to you. Shukar Alhamdolillah
 

Case Study Two

Muniran Kouser is poor, illiterate woman living in the Langah Village. Muniran has been married for twenty-five (25) years. She has seven (7) children (three girls and four boys), her husband has died, eith years after the death of her husband she suffered many financial and social problems, due to that reason she can not send her children in school for education. She got loan of Ten thousand Rs:10,000/- from NRDP to start a shop/ business after joining socio-economic group in the village. She started her business, even though Muniran has no knowledge, experience, and education. In the beginning, Muniran has faced many problems. She don’t personally purchase in the market for her merchandise business because she has no knowledge how to do business and mathematical problem but she did not lose heart. Muniran got training from NRDP local group about, mathematics, marketing, saving, and making surf and shampoo. And she also got basic education from NRDP literacy school. Now Muniran can read and take her signature. She also manage her shop’s accounts and also goes to the market for purchasing goods, she makes surf at home as well. For this, she earns two hundred Rs: 200/-. After saving one hundred Rs: 100/- in each month, she bought four hens after six (6) months. For this, she sell ten eggs daily. Muniran earns Rs: 2000/-from this shop and able to pay her 12 months installments Rs: 11700/- per month regularly for her loan.

Now Muniran has done her business very well. She elected as a member of Union Council Assembly in local government election. She sends her five children in school regularly. All the people of her village respect her. Her knowledge, skill, information have increased. Her socio-economic position has now become stronger and living a better quality of life.
 

Case Study Three

This is the story of a poor rural woman. Whose life has been changed through NRDP literacy program and who believes in “if you educate a man, you educate an individual: but if you educate a women, you educate a family/society”. Saima is living in Man Pur village. She is 28 years old. 11 years has been passed of her marriage. She has three daughters and two sons. Her husband, parents and family in law are uneducated. Her husband’s profession is embroidery (silm sitara). My parents were very poor and against women/girls education. They never allowed me to attend a school so I missed a golden age of my life in vain.

Saima was keen interested in studies, feeling great gap of education in her life. While she hear about NRDP literacy school in her village. She contacted with local women CBO & teacher, got admission and started studying with great interest and a spirit of learning. She has learnt numeric, counting, basic fundamental operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) measurements and currency concepts.

It was because of logical teaching method to go from easy to difficult and from simple to complicated, I am reading and writing Urdu. Now I am success full in household management. I am so happy to see my self-literate. I am managing budget of my home and can teach my children. She checked their homework daily. Saima has got a lot of benefits from NRDP literacy school. She used to shy in the meetings and hesitate to talk with others. Now she can speak in-group meetings confidently. She got awareness and is aware about her rights. She says that education makes a person complete with out it human beings is uncompleted.

I could not read Holy Quran now I have complete 6 sparay. I am studying further storybooks. Because of literacy school my thirst of learning has been increased. I realized the importance of education and I have determination to educate my children especially daughters. Now I am an educated woman and teaching my child’s at home regularly. My message for other women, you too should read and illuminate your and your family lives with the light of education.