This post was originally published by Empower Generation, which merged with Pollinate Energy to form Pollinate Group in 2018.
In early 2014 we began working with Mercy Corps Nepal to improve the lives of marginalized girls in Kailali. Our work is part of the STEM program–a 1.7 million GBP DFID funded, Mercy Corp implemented program working to Support the Education of Marginalized Girls in Kailali District. Our objectives in this program are to make solar lights available to improve girls’ study time and their learning outcomes, and to train marginalized girls in business skills, providing them with the chance to earn income as solar sales agents.
Kailali is a district in far-western Nepal that shares a border with India. In Kailali 36% of girls (10-14) do not transition from primary school to secondary school and more than 50% of girls 15-19 are not enrolled in school (compared to 23% of boys). Additionally, the region’s traditions see many girls forced into early marriage and domestic labor.
Last year, we started three solar distribution businesses in Kailali: Namuna Sourya Urjah, Nava Urjah and Isharika Urjah. These businesses have sold 1,240 solar lights in their communities so far, with close to 900 lights sold to STEM students and their communities. These women-led businesses have created jobs as solar sales agents for 13 marginalized girls aged 18-31, most of whom have never worked before.
We’re proud to recognize some top performing entrepreneurs and sales agents in Kailali in this blog series. These women’s personal development as business leaders and the impact they’ve had on their communities are a testament to their commitment to make Kailali a brighter place for generations to come.
Laxmi Kumari Chaudhari – From shy tailor to well-known business leader
At 23, Laxmi is the youngest entrepreneur in our solar distribution network. Before joining Empower Generation she was a tailor who lacked the confidence to speak to people and earned a meager 800 NPR ($7.50 USD) per month. Very few people in her home village, Phoolbari, even knew her name.
Laxmi pushed herself well beyond her comfort zone when she attended our 2014 Capacity Building Workshop in Kathmandu (the first time she’d ever visited the bustling capital). At the time, Laxmi’s son was still nursing and she could not leave him behind. Instead of letting that stop her, Laxmi exchanged her plane ticket for two bus tickets and took the 16-hour bumpy ride with her son and her mother-in-law to Kathmandu.
Today, as the managing partner of her business, Namuna Sourya Urjah, Laxmi earns more than four times her previous income. She can now afford to send her son to a good school and is even paying for her sister-in-law’s continuing education.
Laxmi’s experience as an entrepreneur thus far has represented a tremendous change in her life. “Today I do not feel afraid to put forward my views in front of anyone… I feel brave and confident to enact change in my community,” she says. She has proven a great leader, demonstrating loyalty, hard work and expert management of her accounts. Her management of the business’ sales agents and timely reporting skills make her an outstanding member of our solar network.
Laxmi describes a story that perfectly captures just how far she’s come, in her own words:
“Once, when I was on my way to sell solar lights to students, I came across a group of men who were gambling and hanging out. They spoke to me impolitely and said they would never buy solar lights from me. Even though they mocked me I was not afraid nor was I demotivated. I got excited by the challenge and stopped to tell them about the benefits my solar lights bring. After hearing my pitch, the gamblers all smiled and seemed happy. They ended up buying three lights from me and even praised and motivated me. They said, ‘You’re going to be a great person someday,’ but for me this day has already arrived.”
Asmita Chaudhari – Leading her community to a brighter future
Asmita is a 23-year-old woman living in Jibanpur, Dhangadi. In late September 2014 she joined Namuna Sourya Urjah as a sales agent and has since sold more lights to parents, schools and teachers in her community than any of the other sales agents in Kailali.
Asmita got off to a rocky start as a sales agent. When she found out about Empower Generation’s training program, she decided to sign up without her father’s permission because she knew he would not be happy with her working outside her home. Risking her father’s indignation she returned from the training as a solar sales agent and set to work convincing her father that she was doing the right thing.
Asmita never turns down an opportunity to learn or to educate others. “I learned a lot in the Business Skill Training and Sales and Marketing Training, but most importantly I learned that I knew a great deal and had the capacity to learn quickly I became even more motivated to do something on my own and started to dream about starting my own business,” Asmita remembers.
There is no doubt her growing self-confidence has translated to impressive solar light sales. “With encouragement from the team at Empower Generation I believed I could do something to help my society and myself. I started believing in myself, I got the strength to make my own decisions and I learned I have capacity to work as a qualified professional, even though I did not finish school,” Asmita says.
As the eldest daughter in her family, Asmita was able to support her family financially with her earnings, and as a recently married woman she has exciting aspirations to start her own solar business in her new home. When we checked in with her father, he expressed the pride he felt for his daughter who is now “earning like a son.”
Asmita’s proudest moment as a sales agent came when a customer was surprised to find out she hadn’t passed her School Leaving Certificate (SLC), because she acted like an educated woman. Her fears of being nothing and going nowhere without an education are gone, and she sees a brighter future for herself.
Although Asmita moved out of the STEM program area when she got married earlier this year, she continues to work as a solar sales agent for Namuna Sourya Urjah and we are working on having her join our network as an entrepreneur in 2016.
We couldn’t be prouder of Laxmi and Asmita’s efforts and attitudes and look forward to their continued development as business leaders in their communities.
1The Adolescent Experience: Using Data to Identify and Reach the Most Vulnerable Young People, Nepal 2006, Population Council.