blog post

"From Grief to Growth: Subhari’s Journey to Empower Her Family"


After her husband's passing, 62-year-old Subhari Chaudhary found it difficult to cover household expenses. She suggested her eldest son start a small business and even advised him to set up a shop in front of their house. At first, her son Badhuram was hesitant; he believed a shop wouldn’t work well in the village and felt it would just waste his time. But, as Subhari says, he eventually gave in to her determination and agreed to open the shop.

To start the shop, elderly widow Subhari struggled to arrange the initial capital. She decided to seek a loan from the senior citizens' group formed with support from Faya Nepal. After presenting her proposal, the group approved it, and she received a total loan of 35,000 rupees in two phases. She first borrowed 20,000 rupees and used it to set up the shop. Once she showed progress, she was granted an additional 15,000 rupees. Subhari says the shop is now running smoothly. Her son handles purchasing and record-keeping, while she manages the shop when he is away. Today, the shop has goods worth over 500,000 rupees. It not only supports daily expenses but has also improved their family’s quality of life.

Badhuram feels deeply thankful to his mother now. "They say listening to elders is like sitting by a warm fire; it’s true," he reflects. "If I hadn’t taken my mother’s advice, and if she hadn’t taken that small loan from her group to support me, I wouldn’t be the shopkeeper I am today." He proudly adds that everyone in the village now calls him ‘Sahuji.’