“I never imagined I’d be the one fixing phones or teaching others how to sew. But here I am—stronger, skilled, and dreaming even bigger.”
My name is Laxmi Maharjan, and I live in Tikathali with my young daughter. Life was simple before—my husband and I ran a small mobile shop in Nakhipot. But everything changed the day he passed away suddenly from a heart attack.
Left to raise my daughter alone, I struggled to keep our shop going. I didn’t know much about mobile phones, and I felt lost. In the middle of that darkness, Sabina Chamling, Executive Director of Rise and Shine Nepal (RSN), walked into my shop—and into my life. She listened to my story, saw my struggle, and invited me to join a Single Women Group (SWG).
That invitation changed everything.
Through RSN, I enrolled in a mobile repair training program. I was hesitant at first, but I slowly gained technical skills—and confidence. Unfortunately, many customers didn’t believe a woman could repair their phones. Their doubt crushed me. I started to lose heart again.
But RSN didn’t let go of me.
Sabina encouraged me once more and helped me enroll in sewing and cutting training. I poured my heart into it—completing 6 months of basic, 3 months of advanced, and 3 months of specialized training. Sewing became my therapy, and every stitch felt like a step forward.
Soon, I placed a sewing machine in the corner of our mobile shop and began taking small tailoring orders. With continued support from RSN, I received my own sewing machine and started a home-based sewing and cutting business.
But my story doesn’t end there.
RSN gave me the chance to teach basic sewing skills to other single women living in Pratiksha Home, the shelter run by RSN. Helping others rebuild their lives while rebuilding mine has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my journey.
Being part of a Single Women Group connected me with others who had faced immense hardships. Hearing their stories gave me strength and reminded me: I am not alone.
Today, I am proud to run my own tailoring shop from home, support my daughter’s education, and stand on my own feet. I have transformed from a grieving widow into a confident entrepreneur and trainer—and I am just getting started.
My dream is to grow this shop into a tailoring training center, where other single women can learn skills, earn with dignity, and rewrite their stories—just like I did.
“Rise and Shine Nepal helped me stitch my life back together—with skills, support, and endless encouragement. For women like me, RSN is not just an organization. It’s a family.” – Laxmi Maharjan
