“I do not want my daughters to live the life I lived”: Sita

Every morning in Gauriganga–7, Kailali, Sita Devi Chaudhary opens the doors to the life she built with her own hands. Inside her small shop are the ordinary things people need every day such as soap, oil, rice, snacks and spices. Nearby sits her sewing machine, another symbol of how far she has come. What may look like a modest business to others is, for Sita, something much bigger: security, dignity and proof that her daughters can have a different future.

Today, Sita runs a grocery shop, a tailoring business and a meat shop in her village. She also teaches tailoring to young women in her community. But not long ago, her life looked very different.

Holding the family together through crisis

Before Sita found stability, Sita survived on daily wages. She crushed gravel in the river and sometimes worked as a helper at construction sites: hard, exhausting work that was never guaranteed.

“There were days when I did not know how I would manage food for my children,” she says.

When her husband became seriously ill and was unable to work, the burden of the entire household fell on her shoulders. She had three daughters to raise, feed and educate but very few resources to do it.

And yet, even in the hardest moments, one thought stayed with her.

“I do not want my daughters to live the life I lived,” she says. “I want them to study and have a better future.”

That hope became her strength.

Support through DFE programme at a critical time

In January 2024, Sita’s family joined the Direct Family Empowerment (DFE) Programme of SOS Children’s Village Dhangadhi. At the time, the family was struggling to meet even the most basic needs, including school materials, food, and health care.

The support came at a crucial time.

The DFE programme first helped her family stabilize by supporting her children’s education, nutrition and daily care. That support eased immediate pressure and gave Sita room to think beyond survival.

But perhaps just as importantly, it helped her believe in herself again.

Through counselling, encouragement and practical sessions on positive parenting, sanitation and business skills, Sita began to see new possibilities. “The support provided by SOS Children’s Villages encouraged me a lot,” she says. “It made me feel that maybe I could do something on my own.”

Still, the road ahead was not easy.

“The biggest challenge was money,” she explains. “And confidence. I was not sure if I could really manage everything.”

Even so, she decided to begin.

With just Rs. 5,000 Sita started small in August 2024. Later, with additional Rs. 75,000 provided by SOS Children’s Villages, she expanded her tailoring work and bought the materials she needed. Slowly, one step at a time, she built multiple sources of income.

That small beginning changed everything.

Today, her daughters can continue their education without the same fear and uncertainty that once overshadowed the household. The family now has better food, better stability and greater peace of mind.

“I no longer worry every day about whether there will be food on the table,” she says.

The changes have reached beyond finances.

“Earlier, I often had low blood pressure because I was not eating properly,” she says. “Now my health is better, and I feel stronger.” 

Women now come to Sita’s shop not only to buy or stitch clothes, but to learn from her. She teaches tailoring to young women in the community, helping them gain skills that can open doors to independence. “It feels good to be able to help others,” she says.

Exiting the programme with confidence

In March 2025, Sita’s family voluntarily exited the programme after becoming self-reliant, an achievement she describes as one of the proudest moments of her life.

Today, she is no longer only a mother trying to survive each day. She is a businesswoman, a trainer, a community member and a role model for her daughters. Her dream now is simple and powerful: to expand her businesses and ensure that all three of her daughters are well educated.

Empowerment through participation and belonging

Sita is also an active member of the Community-Based Organisation (CBO), Gramin Samudaya Kalyan Manch and continues to participate in community-level programmes and learning opportunities. Her continued engagement shows that empowerment is not only about individual income, but also about voice, participation, and belonging within community systems.

“My daughters dream bigger now,” she says. “Because they can see that life can change.”

And in her small shop in Kailali, that change is already taking shape: one stitch, one sale and one act of courage at a time.