More Than a Pouch

About three months ago, she came to us looking for work. Her husband had left her, and she had moved back in with her parents along with her three-year-old daughter.

At the time, our mushroom unit needed additional workers. However, she was often accompanied by her young child, who required constant supervision, and the farm environment, with its equipment and infrastructure, was not always suitable or safe for a toddler. Instead, I encouraged her to try embroidery.

She had never embroidered before.

The learning process was difficult, and it continues to be challenging. Yet she has shown up, practiced patiently, and persisted through the frustrations that come with learning a new skill from scratch.

What has been equally important is the support of the women around her. The circumstances she found herself in had pushed her into a corner, and there were days when she would sit and be sad. The Guddi Crafts team did their best to make her feel welcome and included. They listened, encouraged, shared their own stories, and created space for her to belong. Over time, alongside the tears, there were also smiles, conversations, and even moments of laughter.

This pouch is one of the outcomes of that journey. More than a handmade object, it is a reminder that livelihoods are not built through income alone, but also through community, dignity, and the willingness of people to support one another through difficult times.