Luna’s Dreams: A Tale of Triumph over Limitations
35-year-old Luna hailing from the quiet hills of Kathmandu is a person with disability bound with unwavering determination. Entrenched by hardship and lack of care in her childhood, the Empower World View Training arrived as a ray of hope in her life.
Luna lives with her grandmother Mangaldevi and two younger brothers Sujan and Sumesh. 30 years ago, Luna lost her mother and her father married another woman. However, she did not receive care and attention from her step mother. “I used to think that it is my fault to be born with a disability and some people even told me that having a disability is the reason of doing sinful activities in the past life.”, she lamented. Her relatives and people in the community were also indifferent towards her because of which she felt neglected by everyone.
Participating in Empower World View training organised by World Vision International Nepal in collaboration with Good Neighbors Nepal became a turning point in her life. The main objective of the training is to establish a segment within the disabled community in Nepal who are not benefiting from any form of assistance or support in accessing basic necessities, healthcare, education, employment opportunities. After the training, Luna found a sense of confidence within herself as the training infused her with resilience and positive mindset. “I discovered my own interest and chose the incense making business to be independent. I also wanted to cater to my grandmother’s needs. Since I was six-month-old, all of my basic needs were shouldered by my grandmother who is now 72 years old”, Luna shared.
She was supported with 60 kilograms of incense making material, Nepali Paper bundle from Good Neighbors Nepal as a business recovery support. With the support received, her business thrived as she has been able to generate NPR 200 income on a daily basis and also honed the skill of marketing strategy as a result of her positive mindset, diligence and hard work.
Luna has been committed towards her business and also plans to expand her income. Prior to participating in the Empower World View Training, Luna was completely dependent on her grandmother but had always dreamt of engaging herself in revenue-generating activities, such as selling bags and Newari dresses (cultural attire). She was in a belief that her physical limitations prohibited her from engaging in any opportunities that comes along her way. She lacked confidence in herself as she had not enrolled in any sign language translation class previously, which prevented her from understanding and communicating with others owing to language barriers. Nevertheless, the training empowered her to discover her strengths and learn how to leverage them by adopting a positive outlook, realizing what she was capable of. As a result, she enrolled in the two-month sign language translation course nearby her home where she mastered her communication skill. Later, she joined Balkalyan Vidhyalaya and enrolled in grade 1. She also emerged as a winner when participated in a running competition as an extracurricular activity, where she defeated nine other participants, thus elevating her self-confidence.
Recalling her newfound determination, she inferred, “Empower World View gave me the confidence to chase my dreams. Winning the running competition and growing my incense business is a testimony to my newfound belief in myself."
Luna’s success is not only limited within the walls of her financial independence. She has also become a role model, inspiring others with her story of resilience and self-belief. People in her community began to see her not just as a successful business person, but as a testimony to what can be achieved with determination and the right support. Her future plans reflect her generous spirit and strong family values. She is determined to take care of her grandmother, both emotionally and financially. This commitment underscores her belief in giving back to those who have supported her and highlights the depth of her character.
In her journey from facing societal barriers to becoming a community role model, she has proved that with belief in oneself and the right support, nothing is impossible. Her story is a powerful reminder that true empowerment comes from within and can lead to a transformative change.