Twenty years before Mrs Chandra was married and settled in Chennai. She was from the village and new to the city life. Her husband worked in a private company. She has 4 children. (2 daughters and 2 sons). As a housewife, she struggled to run the family with low income. She found it difficult to take care of the 4 children. So she worked at the Xerox shop as daily wage earner. Income from Xerox shop was not sufficient and she was able to provide proper food to the children.

She met Mrs Gunasundari, who was working as an organizer in the ICNW who helped Mrs Chandra to join ICNW. Mrs Chandra received a first loan for Rs 400 as a loan. She started her snacks business but continued going to work at Xerox shop and in the evening, sold snacks. There was little income in it. Subsequently, ICNW provided trainings on how to spend, save, on the income i.e., financial literacy. Also leadership training was very useful to her. Later, she purchased a second hand Xerox machine from her boss. She received a loan for Rs 50,000 and rented a shop nearby and started her own Xerox shop.

Her husband saw what she was doing and joined with her while continued his work. Of the four children 2 are now studying Engineering and 2-daughters in B.Sc., Nursing. Mrs Chandra received Rs.1000 to 1500 per day as profit. She saved and took a loan for 1,00,000. She purchased a land and built a large house. Now two daughters are married and sons are working in a good position. Mrs Chandra said “I came to Chennai without knowing anything. Now I am in a good position, built my own house and children are well settled. It is all because of ICNW. My area people respect me and value my growth”. Mrs Chandra expressed her gratitude to ICNW for all the assistance, training and support she received.

Mrs Kavitha was married at the age of 17 and has two daughters. She has completed 10th standard only. Not knowledgeable about any business. She met many women in her area that were members of ICNW. So she also joined and initially received Rs 3000 from ICNW to start an idlly shop. (Rice Pan cake).

ICNW provided training which was good knowledge for her on “how to start the business”. Second time she took a loan in ICNW to set up a flour shop. Then slowly she started the grocery store and received good income in it. The profit was between Rs.1500 and Rs.2000 per day. From this income she educated her two daughters. First daughter is in 4th year medicine in Sathya Sai Medical College and her second daughter is doing her 3rd year Physiotherapy at Rama Chandra Medical College.

She said “this is something I am proud off”. Now she is a active social worker who goes to government departments for her area problems like water, road, sewage and electricity etc., with her group. Also she assistance to the needy people who approach her. Today she is in a high level because of ICNW who greatly helped her educate her daughters through the loan and run the business.

Ms Bhuvaneshwari was attacked by polio when she was two and half years old. She had a younger brother who was healthy. Their father with much difficulty educated her upto 12th std., her Mother was a ICNW member and plying a business. Ms Bhuvaneshwari joined ICNW and received a loan and purchased a type writing machine. From home she started teaching type writing and also simultaneously started taking tuition for children at home. Her mother passed away.

Her brother and father left Ms Bhuvaneshwari alone and went away. She started to live alone and continued her tuition and typing class for others. No job was received from the government so with the help of ICNW she continues her work and saves money for her future needs. As single women with polio she lives a dignified and independent life settling example for others.

Ms Bhuvaneshwari has the will power and determination to live alone and face society with courage. Today she is taking tuition for the whole day (batch wise) and live a happy life. ICNW taught her how to live independently and a meaningful life.

Before joining ICNW, Mrs Bhivaneswari was doing catering business. Later she joined the association and bought Rs.3000 in ICNW and bought a popcorn pot for Rs. 30000. Spent on profits on children's education. Her husband drives an auto for hire. The income is not enough for the family with the next loan she received Rs. 40,000 and bought clothes for the catering people. Gradually she saved profit from the income.

Then she bought an auto for Rs. 50,000 from ICNW and increased her income. Initially she was in a rented house and parents were not giving her property share so with the help of ICNW, she courageously fought with her mother and obtained her property share (House).Otherwise the parents would have cheated her and not given her share of property.

Her children studied well and now live a good life. She expresses that because of ICNW, I was able to fight with my parents and obtain my property share. “I learnt to fight for my rights” through ICNW.

Mrs Devi was married and has two children. Her husband used to hire the required materials for balloon sales. Mrs Devi received her first loan for RS 800 and starting doing the balloon business on her own. Initially she started selling in the beach and the streets. Her husband also hawked it from street to street and sell it.

Mrs Devi attended the training programs conducted by ICNW. She used to get loan and do the business and manage her children school fees. She also received scholarships from ICNW for her children education. The eldest daughter studied B.Com and second daughter pursued B.Sc., M.Sc., D.M.S. She bought Rs.50,000 from ICNW and expanded her business.

Now she buys the balloons from wholesale shop and sells it. Several people come to her house and buy balloons. Business is in good shape. She thanks ICNW and everyone for the encouragement and support.

I am Amudha born in a poor family. My father was a daily wage labourer. I have two sisters and one brother. After returning from school I used to tie the flowers and sell it. Therefore I could not concentrate on my studies properly and had to discontinue after 10thclass. I was married at the age of 18 to my uncle (mother’s brother) who was a banana vendor. When my two daughters were born it was difficult to maintain the family. Therefore I started to go for work on daily wage in labeling beedi but was paid very meager amount. Later, I switched to tailoring and started stitching blouses. But I couldn’t continue the job. At this time I heard about the ICNW/WWF and its activities, joined as a member and availed first loan amount of Rs.1400 for business purpose.

The various types of training given by them was very useful to me particularly the skill training where I learned to make new products that could be prepared at home itself. The subsequent loan they provided was invested to make camphor. This fetched me more profit and then slowly expanded this business, I packed this and started selling the same in the shops and neighbourhoods. I have also purchased machine to produce more quantity of camphor. Now I am supplying to more than 80 shops in Vellore. I have also educated my daughters. The eldest daughter is studying M.Sc and my second daughter has completed her B.Com degree.

I am a member for the past 15 years. I have 5 daughters and 2 sons. For the past 15 years we are in flower business. Before availing the loan from the ICNW/WWF 1 used to pluck flowers for a daily wage. The left over flowers were brought home, tied as a string and sold. We used to live in a thatched roof house and during rainy season it would leak. We were struggling a lot. It was during this time I met an organizer who briefed me about the activities and asked me to form a group of 10 members.

With the first loan I purchased flowers, tied and sold it in my village and my husband used to move from one market to another selling the flowers. With the second loan and a part of my earnings I tiled the roof of my house. I leased a land for flower cultivation with the third loan amount. In this land we nurtured varieties of flowers that I plucked, tied and sold it in the market. With the profit I received I arranged my elder daughter's marriage.

Again I leased another flower land. We cultivated jasmine and kanagambaram (crossandra). Then purchased marigold, jasmine and other varieties of flowers from the nearby market and sold them. The subsequent loans availed were invested for the same trade. My husband also purchases roses from Bangalore. With the profit we earned my second daughter's marriage was also arranged. I build a room on the first floor with the consecutive loans. The timely help that I received from the organization was useful to extend my flower business. All my children are settled and some of them are involved in my business.

I am Suthanthiradevi and have done my Post Graduation (M.A.) I have two sons. I married a person of my own choice. My husband had no job. I didn't know how to manage/run the family. I even thought of going back to my parent's home or to my in-laws home. But they never respected us. During this time a friend of mine extended a small help. He provided us a wet grinder on monthly installment. I used to grind flour and sell it. But the income was not sufficient to run the family. At that time I met an organizer who briefed me about the ICNW/WWF. I enrolled myself as a member.

With the first loan amount I extended my flour making business. With the subsequent loans I set up flour mill and chilli, coriander grinding mill. Then I improved my business gradually. I invest part of the profit in savings account. I am also educating my children. My first daughter has completed her nursing course and my second daughter is studying B.E. Now I am living a respectful life. n this land we nurtured varieties of flowers that I plucked, tied and sold it in the market. With the profit I received I arranged my elder daughter's marriage. Again I leased another flower land. We cultivated jasmine and kanagambaram (crossandra). Then purchased marigold, jasmine and other varieties of flowers from the nearby market and sold them.

The subsequent loans availed were invested for the same trade. My husband also purchases roses from Bangalore. With the profit we earned my second daughter's marriage was also arranged. I build a room on the first floor with the consecutive loans. The timely help that I received from the organization was useful to extend my flower business. All my children are settled and some of them are involved in my business.

I grew up in Palaymkottai (Tirunelveli) with four siblings. My father expired when we were young and my mother brought us up with much difficulties. In this circumstances I managed to complete 12th std. However the circumstances did not allow me to study further. As my mother arranged for my marriage and after marriage we moved to Chennai. Even here my life was not rosy. My husband a driver and did not go to work regularly. With two children it was difficult to manage and I did not have any support from anyone. At this time I met a beneficiary of ICNW who explained me about the credit facilities available to young women like me who are willing to start new business. I utilized this opportunity and availed the loan amount and set up flower selling. Later on I enrolled for the computer classes and learnt computer course. This helped me a lot to the changing IT World and made my life easier to access computer and internet. Now I am also earning income from part time work as a computer billing clerk. I have gained empowerment, financial independence and honour after coming in contact with ICNW/WWF

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I was born and brought up in Chennai. I was married a person who is working as a daily wage labourer. I have two children. My husband’s income was not sufficient to maintain the family and we were suffering a lot. During this time I met one organizer who motivated me to start some business in order to earn income. I mobilised five other women from my neighbourhood i.e. in Kolathur and availed loan. With the first loan amount of Rs.6000 I purchased blouse pieces. With the profit I repaid the loan and also utilized it for my family expenses. With the second loan amount of Rs.12,000 along with blouse pieces I started selling sarees also.

During the floods i.e., in the month of November 2015, it was the time for repayment of our installment and I had collected the due amount from all the members and kept it in my home. However the heavy rain did not allow me to move out of the house and my house was completely flooded. During this time the staff visited us to see our condition. I thought they have come to collect the loan amount however when they replied they have come to see our condition and not for the due amount, it made me feel very happy and proud to be part of ICNW/WWF. I was moved by their concern for the members. I repaid the loan amount of Rs.14,256 which they did not insist.

I was born and brought up to a wood cutter father among five girl children in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. The circumstances in the family did not allow us to study in school. I was married to my aunt’s son who was employed in a leather factory in Chennai. As the income wasn’t enough my parents encouraged me to do something and earn income. And also found a place to set up a grocery shop in Natham area. But we didn’t the working capital for the same. During this time I came across the area organizer of ICNW/WWF and came to know about this organization that facilitated financial assistance to poor working women to start entrepreneurial activities.

With the first loan amount of Rs.600 I purchased little groceries items, sold them and my daily profit was Rs.50. With the subsequent loans I also added vegetables in the shop. My husband supports me by purchasing vegetables from the Koyembedu wholesale market directly. Later I also purchased a land in Indira Nagar area with loan amount and my savings. In this area where we purchased the land, there were no shops in the area. Thus we shifted our business to this place. Here we earned good profits. We also started educating our children. With the subsequent loans I also started constructing a house. As the business was doing well I expanded the shop and also started selling breakfast items (idli - rice cake). Slowly I also purchased fridge and other items needed for shop/house. The last loan amount of Rs.50,000 and with my savings I used it for the construction of the house i.e., for improving my asset.

The skill training in various food/detergent products provided by the organization is very helpful to prepare new items and I learnt to prepare the detergent powder and sell this in my shop. After joining, I gained a lot of awareness besides I am an insurance holder. Now a days I spread the good work of WWF/ICNW to other needy people around my area and I motivated 50 other women members i.e., 10 groups to join the organization. My children are studying well and many women members have benefited from the scholarship for their children’s education. My life has transformed completely after joining WWF/ICNW.

I was born and brought up in Bangalore. I got married to a person who was residing in vellore. My father worked in laundry shop as a coolie. My mother is a vegetable vendor. As my father was suffering from T.B, he stopped going for work. So the responsibility of taking care of the family fell on my mother. I have 4 children. My husband is working as a painter and whatever he earns he spends in liquor. I have been a member for the past 3 years. My daughter is studying in college. Apart from her studies she will help me in making wire bags. I take the bags from one street to another and sell them. I lost all my belongings in this Tsunami disaster. The President of WWF/ICNW not only helped us by giving loans but also supported us by providing relief measures to all the affected people by supplying them with dress, rice, utensils and some cash amount.

People are very proud of the ICNW/WWF as they feel that no government organization approached the area for relief measures. But it was only the ICNW/WWF that arrived in time and helped in the hour of crisis. We thank the ICNW/WWF for helping us in the hour of need.

I was born and brought up Bodoor Mandal, Jinnur Village. I have studied upto class 10. I got married at the age of 17. My husband used to work for daily wages. In the meantime I had two daughters. It was difficult to run the family and look after the children with the meager income and could not educate them. Later when I heard about the organization I went to the office to enquire about it. I knew how to knit the lace. With this skill in my hand I availed the loan from the ICNW/WWF. The loan was very useful to start my work.

With the subsequent loan I invested in my lace work and increase the work. I started earning profits. As the business expanded we moved to another area I started sending my children to school. I also started teaching this skill to other poor women and gave them work. Some of the women have also progress and started their own individual business. I have built my own house and my children are now well settled. The training program instilled me that we should help others who are in need.