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FBLT Success Stories REHANA
A resident of Abidabad, Baldia Town, Karachi, Rehana was a case of early marriage at the age of 16. Within a year, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Things started to get rough at home with the birth of a girl as her in-laws turned bitter towards her. After a few years, she gave birth to a son. Soon after, her husband kicked them out of the house and remarried. With little to no education, Rehana had no other option but to come back to her father’s house and be dependent upon him and her brothers. She was one of those women who have never stepped out of their homes hence the hesitation and societal pressures came in the way of applying for a job.
Facing a tumultuous period in her life, a neighbour’s encouragement led her to explore earning opportunities from her home. Introduced to HomeNet Pakistan (HNP), her life took a positive turn. Attending her first meeting at the community social mobilizer’s home, she was introduced to the Financial Inclusion of Home-based Workers’ Enterprises through Business Booster Loan and Trainings (FBLT) project. This initiative aimed to empower home based workers, helping them evolve into Women Micro Entrepreneurs (WMEs) through training and promoting financial inclusion.
Recognizing that the project offered more than just awareness, she embraced it as a step-by step process to transform women into business owners, ensuring their economic stability. Engaging in HNP’s training sessions marked the beginning of her learning journey.
Today, she proudly owns and operates ‘Noor Undergarments’, a successful business run from her home.
“I initially attended HomeNet Pakistan’s meetings out of curiosity about the FBLT program,” shared Rehana. “However, the concept of starting a home-based business and achieving independence resonated with me. This encouraged me to enroll in their Foundation Level Training, where I learned the essentials of entrepreneurship, including identifying my passion, pricing strategies, financial management, and profitability.”
The idea stemmed from her personal experience of buying undergarments in her vicinity. It was embarrassing to buy lingerie from a male shopkeeper, where you could not even try your purchase or ask questions about it. She realized if she was too shy to buy undergarments in her area then other women must be feeling the same way.
After completing her Foundation Level Training, she resolved to address this issue by setting up a small business in her home. She designated a room as her business space, where women could openly inquire, try various styles, request customized items, and feel at ease while making a purchase.
Rehana’s innovative business idea lacked the necessary resources, but HomeNet Pakistan stepped in to help. They assisted her in acquiring a PKR 100,000 loan from HBL Microfinance Bank to kickstart her home-based business. They encouraged her to go to the bank, assisted her with all relevant documents for the loan, convinced her brother to be her guarantor, etc., and she was finally granted the amount. With this financial boost, she purchased inventory, set up her business space, and began repaying the loan with her earnings.
As Rehana’s business grew, so did the demands of her customers. She started receiving requests for cosmetics, prompting her to expand her product range. She began offering high-quality cosmetic products at affordable prices, ensuring that women in Abidabad had access to superior makeup products.
Previously reliant on her father and brother, Rehana now stands independent, providing her children with a good education and contributing to her household financially. Starting with nothing, she now earns approximately PKR 25,000-30,000/month and has plans to further expand her business.
Rehana’s future aspirations include renting a shop near her home where she will hire women to stitch clothes, providing them with a means of earning. She also intends to teach sewing to young girls, empowering them with valuable skills early in life. Having experienced hardship and financial struggles, Rehana is determined to help other women in similar situations take charge of their lives and achieve positive transformation.
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