For Shahnaz Begum, rebuilding her life was not a choice, it was a necessity.

Fleeing domestic abuse, Shahnaz left her home and moved to Kolkata with her two sons. As she searched for work, she faced repeated barriers: Daily wage opportunities were irregular, unstable, and often shaped by discrimination. With limited income and inconsistent employment, providing for her children became a daily challenge. 

In 2023, Shahnaz joined Trickle Up’s livelihood program, WINGS. She received a sewing machine and began building a livelihood from her skills while participating in entrepreneurship development and financial literacy training, where she learned essential business skills. 

For the first time, she was not only working, but learning how to run a business. “The training helped me understand how to manage my work as a business. Today, I feel more confident about my future and my ability to grow,” Shahnaz said. 

Over time, she built a steady customer base within her community. Her tailoring work expanded from occasional orders to a more stable sewing and tailoring enterprise. With financial stability came greater independence and confidence in decisionmaking, and she was able to begin planning for her children’s future. 

“Leaving an abusive situation was difficult, but starting my own business gave me the strength to rebuild my life and support my children with dignity,” Shahnaz said. In her community, other women have also been inspired to find a path forward that once felt out of reach. 

“Shahnaz’s determination and resilience have inspired other women in the community to believe that they can overcome challenges and become self-reliant,” a community member notes. Now, Shahnaz is running a tailoring enterprise and rebuilding her life one stitch at a time.