In 2025, Karuna-Shechen helped 374 people launch their own businesses by providing financial assistance tailored to their projects. But what does this support actually mean in their lives? Shanti’s story helps us understand.
Shanti is a 39-year-old woman from the village of Anjan in the state of Bihar in northeastern India, where she lives with her family. Like many women in her situation, she wants to become financially independent and help support her family, but lacks the resources to start a business.
With support from Karuna-Shechen, she purchased a cow, which she cares for, feeds, and keeps healthy. Today, her cow is pregnant, and Shanti eagerly awaits the birth of the calf so she can expand her dairy business once the cow begins producing milk.
« That support restored my hope and gave me the confidence I needed to stand on my own two feet. » Shanti says.
Through its support for business creation, Karuna-Shechen contributes to the economic development of isolated rural communities. Special attention is given to women, to enable them to develop their businesses, gain independence, and gradually find their place in the economic life of their communities.
These microloans make it possible to launch small but sustainable businesses, which Karuna-Shechen supports in a variety of ways, notably through training in agriculture, crafts, and computer skills. A cow for Shanti to start a dairy business, a few hand-crafted bars of soap to launch a shop, training in floriculture to develop a flower-selling business, a hair salon to open, or even a vegetable garden to cultivate: behind every project lies an idea, a skill, and the opportunity to gradually build a better future.
According to Shanti, this financial boost has made a noticeable difference in her self-confidence and the way she views her family’s future.
I am now convinced that I can provide a stable life for myself and my children.
