Think pink Sri Lanka - women driving for women

“I Used to Survive. Now I Live with Pride.” – Sunita's Journey of Transformation

My name is Sunita, and I come from Kalabanzar in Jahada Rural Municipality.

I live with my husband and our three children. For many years, life was a constant struggle. My husband worked long hours in a factory just to keep food on our table, and I did my best to support him—managing our home and working in the fields during the agricultural season. I took whatever daily wage labour I could find. But even with both of us working, we couldn’t keep up with the rising cost of living. School fees, medical expenses, and even basic food items felt heavier every day.

There were times when I felt invisible. Like many women in my village, my work was vital, yet it was rarely recognized. I often thought to myself, Is this all there is? Just survival?

But deep down, I wanted more—not just financial relief, but dignity, independence, and a sense that I mattered outside the home. That’s when everything started to change.

I joined the Kalabanzar Farmers’ Group, hoping to learn something new. Through this group, I heard about the Pink Tuktuk Initiative, supported by the Rosie May Foundation. They were offering training for women like me to become licensed electric rickshaw drivers in the city. At first, I was surprised—driving a rickshaw was something I’d only ever seen men do. But something stirred in me. This was a chance to break free from the roles that had confined me.

With my family’s encouragement, I applied. I trained hard to learn the skills I needed. It wasn’t always easy—I had never imagined myself behind the wheel. But with every day, my confidence grew. When I finally received my driving license, I couldn’t believe it. It felt like I was holding a key—not just to a vehicle, but to a whole new life.

Thanks to the Pink Tuktuk program, I received my very own electric rickshaw. I began driving in the nearby city and started earning around NPR 35,000 a month. For the first time, I had a stable income. I could buy proper food for my children, pay their school fees on time, and even began saving NPR 6,000 each month—in my name and in my daughter’s. That alone was powerful. It felt like I was claiming a future not just for myself, but for her too.

But something even greater happened. As one of the first woman in my village to drive a city rickshaw, I started changing how people saw me—and how women are seen. Where once I was known only as a housewife or laborer, now people came to me for advice. I became a role model. And with that, I realized this wasn’t just my journey—it was a path others could follow too.

A few months later, with the help of my savings and a small loan, I bought my own electric city-rickshaw. Now I don’t have to pay daily rental fees. I manage my own time, maintain my vehicle, and keep more of what I earn. My income has increased, and I’m steadily repaying the loan while investing in my children’s future.

My dream is to send them to good schools and see them complete higher education—something I never had the chance to do. One day, I hope my daughter will drive her own path in life, with confidence and pride.

When I look back, I see how far I’ve come—from walking behind the plough in the fields to driving my own vehicle through the city streets.

I used to survive. Now I live with pride.

To everyone who supported this initiative: thank you. Your belief in women like me has changed my life—and I promise, I’ll keep paying it forward.