Surraiya Begum and her family came to Karachi in search of a better future.  They had visions of sending the children to school and having a solid roof over their heads. Year in and year out, the husband labored while Surraiya tended to the household chores.  There were times when it was simply a matter of survival.  However, occasionally due to good temporary employment, the family would be able to fulfill their basic needs and meager savings would be available.  These however, would finish when the family would travel to their native village in the NWFP in order to maintain some communication with the ancestral clan.

Over the years Surraiya realized that there was no silver lining in the clouds.  She had eight children and the youngest was only a few months old.  There was no visible sign of a better tomorrow.  Years of hard labour under harsh conditions and job insecurity had taken its toll on her husband.  He was now a disillusioned man and was unable to put up with the pressures.  Many years ago, back in her village, Surraiya had learnt stitching and embroidery on the single machine the village could boast.

Having convinced her husband that she had to work in order to supplement the income, she bought an old machine with the last savings she had.  She started making simple garments for the neighborhood women and children.
This earned her the desperately needed additional income.  However this temporary respite was shattered altogether when one day the husband, who could not bear the pressures any more, passed away.  Surraiya had to sell off whatever she had in order to meet the necessary expenses.

It was then that Surraiya's nightmare began.  How would she feed her children? How would she lead an honourable life?  How long could she live on charity and loans?  She was desperately looking for an income generating avenue but at the same time was conscious of the constraints.  She had to work at home as the children were not old enough to be left alone.  In sheer desperation, Surraiya asked our Director Operations for financial help.
It was at that stage that she was briefed on our Womens' Programme and was provided with a sewing machine.  We arranged for her initial training with the manufacturer and soon Surraiya was in Business.

Surraiya has now regained her dignity.  Her children are reasonably well-fed and the older girls are helping their mother in the work which according to Surraiya "is pouring in".