This story was written by Duncan Hospital, PWS&D’s partner in India, with minor additions and edits by PWS&D Communications.
In the village of Karkhola, in the state of Bihar, India, 18-year-old Raunak Khatun’s life has been filled with challenges.
Raunak’s mother died of pneumonia while giving birth to her. After her mother’s death, her grandmother cared for her, becoming her primary source of love and support. A few years later, her father remarried, and soon after, Raunak faced another difficult change. Her stepmother forced both Raunak and her grandmother out of their home and her father stopped providing financial support.
Raunak and her grandmother, left homeless, built a modest shelter on government land and supported themselves through begging and daily farm labour. Despite these hardships, her grandmother stayed firm in her belief that Raunak deserved a better future.
One day, during a community awareness session organized by PWS&D-supported Karuna Project, the project team announced opportunities for girls who were out of school to receive vocational training in tailoring and beautician courses. Raunak and her grandmother were present that day. Motivated by the team’s encouragement and her grandmother’s unwavering support, Raunak enrolled in the tailoring course.
After four months of training, Raunak successfully finished her course and started sewing clothes for others in her village. However, she faced a major challenge — she didn’t have her own sewing machine. Recognizing her dedication and potential, the Karuna Project supported her through an income generating initiative to buy her own sewing machine.
That small gesture turned out to be a huge turning point in her life.
Raunak soon started receiving tailoring orders from people in her community. She now makes an income, which helps her support herself and her grandmother. She also trains two other girls from her community, passing on the skills she learned.
“Karuna taught me an art and gave me a sewing machine that changed my life. Now I can earn and take care of my grandmother. I want to help other girls like me learn this skill and stand on their own feet,” she shares.
Her grandmother also happily shares that the Karuna Project not only gave Raunak a valuable skill but also brought dignity and pride into both of their lives.
Today, Raunak is an independent young woman, respected in her community for her hard work and talent.
