Their stories, in their own voices.

Each woman here carries a craft, a household, and a vision for the future. What was once practiced quietly in homes and spare moments is now becoming a source of income, independence, and possibility.

Kaagdu

Traditional Massage Practitioner | Rampur, Himachal Pradesh

Working with herbs, oils and inherited knowledge, Kaagdu carries a practice passed down through generations of women.

Kaagdu is a 40-year-old maalish dai (traditional massage practitioner) from Rampur, Himachal Pradesh.

Kaagdu learned the art of traditional therapeutic massage from her mother and has spent years refining her skills. Despite facing significant challenges and adversity within her home, she remained determined to build a source of income for herself and her family.

Today, she helps individuals manage knee, ankle, foot, and muscle pain while also supporting women during postpartum recovery. Drawing on her experience and Ayurvedic knowledge of natural remedies, she has developed her own herbal massage oil made from more than 20 natural ingredients, which she uses in her treatments and sells to clients.

She takes great pride in carrying forward a skill passed down through generations and in the positive impact her work has on the well-being of those she serves.

Through Kinare, Kaagdu is receiving support to grow her business and reach more clients. The income she earns through her work provides an important source of financial independence and security while allowing her to continue sharing a tradition she values deeply.

By expanding both her massage practice and herbal oil enterprise, she hopes to build a sustainable livelihood around a skill she has spent years cultivating.

Lakshmi

Aspiring Sewing & Knitting Entrepreneur | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

What began as a practical skill has become a powerful source of independence, as Lakshmi uses sewing and knitting to build both income and lasting relationships within her community.

Lakshmi Devi is a 40-year-old mother of two daughters living in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, originally from a small village on the outskirts of Kangra.

Married at the age of 19, she spent much of her early adulthood focused on household responsibilities, with limited opportunities to pursue her own ambitions. Early on, societal expectations and family norms discouraged Lakshmi from working outside the home.

Over time, however, she began working as a house helper in nearby homes, an experience that gave her exposure to the outside world as well as greater autonomy in household decision-making. However, she always dreamed of building something of her own.

Today, through Kinare's entrepreneurship program, Lakshmi is receiving business development support to help launch and grow her sewing and knitting enterprise.

By transforming a long-held aspiration into a source of income, she hopes to create greater economic security for her family while serving as a role model for her daughters and other women in her community.

Priya

Independent Sewing & Crochet Artisan | Chopal, Himachal Pradesh

Through every stitch and every hour of labor, Priya turns skill and perseverance into a life of greater possibility for herself and her children.

Priya is a 28-year-old mother building an independent life for herself and her two children.

Originally from Chopal, Himachal Pradesh, she now lives on her own and works in Shimla to support her family. Alongside her sewing and crochet work, Priya earns an income as a house helper, balancing multiple responsibilities while pursuing her entrepreneurial ambitions.

Despite her talent and dedication, one of the biggest challenges she faces is accessing the capital needed to purchase raw materials and expand her craft.

She dreams of turning her sewing and crochet skills into a sustainable business that can provide greater financial security and open new opportunities for her family.

Through Kinare's entrepreneurship program, Priya is gaining access to resources, mentorship, and support needed to grow her enterprise.

Her greatest motivation is her daughter. By building a successful business of her own, Priya hopes to provide her with a better future and inspire her to grow into an independent, confident woman capable of pursuing her own dreams.

Sampati

Emerging Crochet Entrepreneur | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

For twenty years, Sampati crocheted for family and community. Today, she is finding the confidence to transform that long-held craft into a business of her own.

Sampati is a 45-year-old crochet artisan from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

For years, she used her crochet skills to create garments and decorative items for her family and local temple, finding joy and purpose in her craft. Despite her talent, she never considered turning her work into a business due to household pressures and a lack of confidence in her ability to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Coming from a low-income family, Sampati always hoped to contribute more to her household income, but the idea of starting a business felt out of reach.

As the mother of a daughter and a son, she hopes to create greater financial stability for her family and provide her children with opportunities she did not have herself.

Through Kinare's mentorship, counseling, and the support of a community of women pursuing similar goals, she is beginning to see herself not just as a skilled craftswoman, but as an entrepreneur.

By sharing her crochet work with a wider audience, she hopes to contribute to her family's income while proving to herself—and others in her community—that it is never too late to pursue your ambitions.