By Shafkat Alam | Joint Secretary
Meet Pinky, a 32-year-old woman from Mir Meher Ali Lane in Kolkata, whose journey is a powerful reminder that resilience, when supported by community, can change everything.
Pinky once lived in a bamboo-and-plastic hut, surviving on her husband’s unpredictable 300 (US$ 3.75) day wage and enduring the pain of domestic violence.
Her life was defined by scarcity and silence.
But she chose to rise.
In 2019, with help from Tiljala SHED’s Community Interest Group, Pinky took a 20,000 (US$ 250) microloan and started a small waste collection business with her husband.
She repaid it in less than a year.
Then, she took another loan—40,000 (US$ 500) —and expanded.
They moved into a rented home. Life began to change.
Then came COVID. The business collapsed. But Pinky didn’t.
She reinvented herself as a street food vendor, and now runs a modest grocery shop—a symbol of her grit, grace, and the quiet power of women who refuse to give up.
Pinky is a mother, an entrepreneur, and a community role model.
Her journey reminds us what’s possible when courage meets opportunity.
And none of this would have been possible without the support of our donors.
Your timely contribution was a lifeline for Pinky—and continues to be for so many women like her.
Let’s keep showing up. Let’s help more women rise.
Your support today can light the way for someone’s tomorrow.
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