Aqila Begum is a 45-year-old married woman living in Baldia Town, Karachi. She is a mother of five children and has completed her matriculation. Her husband, M. Nadeem, earns around PKR 15,000 per month by doing labor work. To support her family, Aqila works from home as a stitching worker. Before receiving any formal training, Aqila used to earn around PKR 10,000 per month by stitching clothes for a few customers in her neighborhood. She had limited outreach and lacked the professional skills to grow her work further. Managing both her home and work was always a challenge, especially due to financial pressure and the responsibility of raising five children. With the support of UNDP and HomeNet Pakistan (HNP), Aqila got the chance to join a vocational training program, where she learned basic stitching and fabric designing. Her course fee and travel expenses were fully covered, and she received her travel allowance through a cash app, which also helped her improve her financial management and become more comfortable with digital tools. During the training, Aqila also gained knowledge in marketing, small business management, and online selling. These new skills helped her improve the quality of her work and present herself as a certified professional. As a result, more customers started approaching her from outside her immediate area, and now she earns between PKR 15,000 to 20,000 monthly. This growth has not only boosted her income but also her confidence and self respect. Despite continuing financial challenges and the difficulty of balancing home and work, Aqila remains determined. She wants to keep learning and stay connected with HomeNet Pakistan for future opportunities. She dreams of becoming a proud and independent mother, who can fulfill her children’s small wishes and give them a better life. Aqila believes that with continued support and her own hard work, she will be able to build a stable and secure future for her family.