How growing mushrooms change the life of Kaushala

Kaushala was nervous about growing mushroom at first. To top it all, she had never engaged in any livelihood or business before. She had less interaction with the outside world because of physical challenges that limited her mobility and her social attitude towards people with disability.

Kaushalya's parents ran a small shop to support the three of them. Her siblings were married and could manage on their own. When her mother passed away in 2016, Kaushalya and her father sold everything in the shop to do the funeral and never opened shop again.

In 2017, Kaushalya was invited to be a part of World Vision's Inclusive Livelihood (iLIVE) Project that focuses on the economic empowerment of people with disability and woman-headed households.

"I could choose from three cultivation options - peanuts, manioc or mushroom," says Kaushalya, "But because of the limitations in my mobility, I chose mushroom. It doesn't require as much hard labour as the other two. But I was nervous because I didn't know anything about mushrooms."

However, the training programmes of the Project slowly took away her fears.

"We learnt everything about cultivating and caring for the mushrooms," she says. "We also learnt about starting and managing a business, managing the finances, value chains and savings. The Project initiated savings groups that we could be a part of and save."

"My first attempt in growing mushrooms was a huge success, so I gained confidence and decided to continue," she says. " The first time I received an income, I was overjoyed because that was with my hard work."

"From my earnings, I save a portion with the savings group," she says, "With my first sales I bought more mushroom kits and then I bought a scooter."

When she purchases 500 mushroom kits, it lasts for three months. She has also started creating mushroom products such as mushroom coffee and dried mushrooms.

The iLIVE Project also focuses on sensitising the community towards people with disability and other vulnerable groups and helps build more inclusive communities.

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