Training helps Rupa’s path to financial independence
Rupa is running a successful business and is providing for her family following training from Plan International Nepal.
Rupa and Suraj were teenagers when they fell in love and got married. They did not think about the challenges they would face by marrying at such a young age. But reality quickly took hold when they both had to drop out of school and were unable to find decent employment to provide for their family.
Three years after getting married, Rupa gave birth to a baby girl. However, what should have been a time of joy was quickly cut short when Suraj had a terrible accident. “Suraj was burnt in fire and lost his left arm. He needed medical attention and money for treatment, which is when my father-in-law stepped in and started driving to earn an income.”
Forced out of retirement to pay for his son’s treatment and provide for the family of 7, Rupa’s 70-year-old father-in-law found work as a driver but the income he earned was not enough to cover the family’s needs. “How could it be possible for us to feed the whole family with the earnings of just one person?,” Rupa asks.
Positive parenting sessions boost child nutrition
Rupa’s baby daughter began to show signs of malnourishment so to make ends meet, she started working as a maid so she could at least buy some food. However it was not an easy decision to make. “I was in dilemma about working because my daughter was so young and there were disputes at home. I didn’t have any other skills than to be a maid.”
When Plan International started running positive parenting sessions in her village in Nepal, Rupa decided to attend. There she learnt about the importance of educating children and ensuring they have a good diet.
“Knowledge of parenting is not sufficient, in fact, parents need to have a good income to support their children with good food, education, and clothing,” she explains.
Good jobs for young women
Wanting to explore ways of boosting her family’s income, when Rupa heard about a livelihood project that Plan International was implementing in her village with the support of our local partner BEE Group, she was keen to apply for a place on the training scheme.
I am preparing a business plan as I want to scale up my shop.
Rupa
The project supports young women like Rupa into decent employment. The training also includes information on life skills, helping guide young women to make their own decisions and speak out if they face any form of violence or discrimination.
Rupa was accepted onto the training course and learnt how to set up and run her own business. “During the training, I was sure that I wanted to start a small grocery shop near my house so that I could spend time with my family and take care of my daughter,” she says.
To help start her grocery store, Rupa received financial support from the project equivalent to NPR 80,285 (€555). Smiling happily, she tells us, “I managed to add another NPR 20,000 to scale up my business which was a loan from a local savings group.
Profits rise
“I have been running my shop for nearly 3 months now and I am happy to say that I make NPR 1,300-3000 in sales every day,” says Rupa. “Each month, I save NPR 300 at the savings group, and any other profits I invest in the shop by adding more products. I believe that my business will bring fortune to my family.”
Rupa says running the shop has helped her gain respect in her home and among the wider community. “My in-laws support me. My husband is recovering from his trauma and helps me to open the shop every morning. My father-in-law helps me buy the products wholesale from the nearest market.
“With the profit I am making, I will be able to repay all my loans. As I learnt during the training, I am preparing a business plan as I want to scale up my shop and move to a bigger space where I can have more product choices for my customers,” Rupa concludes.
About the project
Child Not Bride is a programme funded by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK Telethon) and implemented by Plan International. The goal of this programme is to reduce the prevalence of child marriage in the Terai lowlands of southern Nepal, close to the Nepal-India border: Bardiya and Dhanusa.
The 4-year project (January 2022 – December 2025) aims to keep girls in school, enhance adolescents knowledge of sexual rights and reproductive health, boost the economic security of girls and young women, challenge harmful social norms, and improve child protection.
Skills and work, Lifeskills training, Livelihoods, Vocational training
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