*Babita Budha is 22 years old and lives in Sipa village, Ward No. 7 of Soru Rural Municipality, Mugu. Like many young women in remote Karnali, her life once seemed limited by geography, poverty, and deeply rooted social norms.

Babita completed her higher secondary education (+2) in her own village. Yet, despite her education, opportunities were almost non-existent. There were no local jobs, and as a young woman, she faced constant discouragement. “Our society believed that women were only meant for household work,” she recalls. Women were rarely included in meetings, decision-making spaces, or community committees.

At just 19, Babita was married. Poverty and lack of awareness pushed her parents toward early marriage, seeing it as a way to reduce their financial burden rather than invest further in their daughter’s education. “Only later did I truly understand why so many girls are married early,” Babita reflects. “Now, I feel a responsibility to raise awareness so other girls do not face the same fate.”

When Babita was still in Grade 10, INF Nepal launched its project in her village. Her mother became a member of a Self-Help Group (SHG), and Babita occasionally accompanied her to meetings. Listening quietly from the side, Babita was deeply inspired by discussions on social change, women’s rights, and collective strength.

After her marriage, Babita moved to her husband’s family home. A year later, she gathered the courage to ask her mother-in-law if she could take over the SHG membership. With her support, Babita officially became a member of Karnali SHG at the age of 20 the youngest in the group.

With regular facilitation from INF project staff, Babita began learning leadership, meeting facilitation, and decision-making skills. Over time, her confidence grew. Today, she can independently facilitate SHG meetings without external support.

Women Leading Financial Change

In 2022, members from multiple SHGs came together to form a women-led cooperative to ensure long-term financial sustainability and income generation. They made a bold decision: the cooperative would be exclusively for women.

During the second general assembly, Babita was elected as a member of the cooperative’s leadership team. She now carries dual responsibilities—strengthening the cooperative and continuing her work with the SHG to raise awareness on social and economic issues.

Today, Hamro Milijuli Cooperative stands as a powerful example of women’s collective strength with the Total fund of NPR 3,617,798 with 407 women as shareholders and providing loans to 81 women just last fiscal year. These loans have enabled women to start and grow small businesses such as poultry farming, goat rearing, tailoring, grocery shops, furniture making, and other income-generating activities.

Through her journey, Babita has learned a powerful truth: financial independence is the foundation of women’s empowerment. “When women have access to money and control over financial decisions, they can educate their daughters, delay early marriage, and break cycles of poverty,” she says.

Her dream is to expand cooperative-led income generation, including agriculture-based enterprises, so more women can achieve financial security while staying in their communities.

“I would not be who I am today if INF Nepal had not started this project in our village,” Babita says with gratitude. “INF didn’t just support us they taught us sustainability, leadership, and belief in ourselves.” Today, Babita Budha is no longer a silent observer. She is a leader, an advocate, and a role model for young women across her community a proof that when women are trusted, trained, and supported, they can transform not only their own lives but the future of an entire generation.

*Name changed for anonymity