My name is Umavathi, and my husband is Sivakumar. We have children studying in a government school. In the beginning, my husband was the only person earning for our family. But many times, he could not find work, and his income was not enough to take care of our needs. It was difficult to run the family with his earnings alone. I decided to find a job and support my family, but I did not know how to start.
With the guidance and encouragement of the Mangala Geetham sisters (Through ARUWYE), I learned tailoring and making handmade products. This gave me confidence, and I started a women’s self-help group (SHG) called the Indira Gandhi Women Self-Help Group with 13 members. I encouraged the women in my group to save money for their needs and learned how to keep proper records.
I took part in many workshops and training programs conducted by Mangala Geetham. These sessions helped me gain knowledge and confidence. With this confidence, I took another step forward and became an evening tuition teacher for children in my community. I helped them with their lessons and trained them to improve their skills.
Not just that, with the support of Mangala Geetham, I have also started preparing for the Village Administrator Examination. I am working hard to achieve my goal. Without the help of Mangala Geetham, I cannot imagine how I would have managed my financial struggles.
Today, I feel proud and happy. I have learned new skills, started earning, and I am helping my community. My journey shows that when women get the right support and guidance, they can achieve great things.
