Sania is a 25-year-old unmarried woman and a home-based worker living in Karachi. She was born with a hearing and speech disability, which has made communication difficult throughout her life. Due to this, Sania often faced challenges in expressing herself clearly, understanding instructions in public spaces, and accessing opportunities that required verbal communication. This also led to social isolation and a lack of confidence in dealing with customers or expanding her work beyond her immediate community. Despite her disability, Sania has always been determined to support herself and become financially independent. Before joining any formal training, she was already involved in stitching work from home, earning around PKR 7,000 per month. However, due to limited skills and lack of exposure, her income remained low and inconsistent. With the support of UNDP and HomeNet Pakistan (HNP), Sania got the chance to enroll in a vocational training program where she learned basic stitching and fabric designing. The course fees and transport expenses were fully covered, and she received her travel allowance through a cash app, which helped her gain confidence in managing money and understanding digital tools. The training environment was supportive and inclusive, which made Sania feel comfortable and respected. The trainers made sure to accommodate her needs, using visual demonstrations and written materials to help her understand the lessons. During the course, Sania also learned about marketing techniques, product presentation, and how to sell her work online, which played a big role in expanding her customer base. After completing the course and mastering new stitching techniques, her income doubled. She now earns around PKR 14,000, depending on the orders she receives, and is slowly building a good reputation in her community for her neat, creative work. Sania is also exploring ways to reach more customers through online platforms with the help of her family. Sania is eager to continue her learning journey and wishes to take a basic computer course in the future. Her dream is to become completely financially self-sufficient, continue working from home, and one day train other young girls with disabilities to help them become skilled and independent like herself. Sania’s story is an inspiring example of how inclusive training opportunities can transform the lives of marginalized women, giving them the tools and confidence to succeed despite their
challenges.