It soared across India. Milaap‘s lenders grew in number. And so did the people seeking this opportunity to uplift themselves out of poverty. Mothers like Lalfakzuali in Mizoram, to the north-east, rewrote not just their own stories. They grew their businesses, hired other women, and changed their lives too. In West Bengal to the east, artisans like Monowara were able to make beautiful ‘jori’ embroidery by the light of their solar lamps - bought with loans from our lenders like you. They now earn more, working past sunset, while their children study beside them.

To the south, in rural Tamil Nadu, mothers like Saroja and Nagarani took lessons in basket weaving and many other trades. You opened your hearts to Karnataka’s former Devadasis like Mahananda, who had been discriminated against for years. These mothers setup their own small businesses. Today, their children attend school. Their families have begun to access basic sanitation, clean water, better health - projects that are also supported by Milaap’s lenders.

More recently, as Milaap journeyed west, its lenders empowered women entrepreneurs from Gujarat. The Milaap community also joined efforts to revive Gujarat’s artisan crafts. Beautiful garments embellished with traditional patchwork, embroidery, bead-work, and block-printing came to life. And the artisans have slowly begun to prosper.

As more underprivileged rural women entrepreneurs sign up for Milaap loans, across India, the Sakhi story repeats itself - families begin their journey out of poverty. And communities benefit, in so many little ways.

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