Zephyr comes from a modest socio-economic background with a low and irregular household income. The family primarily depended on daily wages and small-scale farming for their livelihood. They had very limited savings and were also dealing with some debt. The major challenges they faced included financial instability and limited access to sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Zephyr gets to know about the project through community members and mobilization activities conducted by the REACHA team. He was motivated to join with the aim of improving his income, gaining new skills, and building a more secure and stable future for his family.

He received bamboo craft training from REACHA trainers, where he developed skills in creating a variety of bamboo-based products. The project also offered mentoring, skill development, and guidance on financial and business management. After completing the training in November, he was supported in registering his individual enterprise under MSME. This support enabled him to build confidence, gain practical skills, and initiate his own income-generating activity.

After completing the training, he began producing bamboo products on an order basis. Till this date, he has made around 10–12 bamboo products and has earned approximately ₹5,000. His work has become more structured and efficient. He now follows proper planning, maintains quality standards, and undertakes orders based on demand—practices he did not follow earlier.

He have become more involved in household decision-making and now contribute financially to my family. His ability to save has improved, and there is better overall well-being in the family. He also feel more confident and independent than before.

Currently, he faces challenges such as limited capital, market competition, and irregular demand. To overcome these, he plans to improve the quality of his products, increase market linkages, take on more orders, and continue learning through further training and support

 

By equipping individuals like Zephyr with skills, market access, and entrepreneurial support, the project is not just creating livelihoods but creating the foundation for long-term economic resilience within communities