How did VFS become the hope for so many aspiring women entrepreneurs in rural India?

This is a question that I get asked way more often than I can count.

My answer always remains the same: perseverance and integrity.

Working in the right direction with ethics and principles has made us a household name of trust and hope. Our executives and our women customers help us spread the boon of microfinance.

Over the decades, we have been a part of many growth stories. We nurtured many entrepreneurs from the initial days. After they took their first steps, they spread their wings and soared to new destinations.

These long-standing customers have given us valuable insights about guiding budding entrepreneurs. This continuous cycle of life has instilled a sense of belonging in our environment. My past blogs have honoured our budding entrepreneurs and their growth story. I dedicate this blog to one such veteran who has chosen us for life and has been a source of inspiration for many.

Habiba Sardar chose the Village Financial Services family for 15 years. This entrepreneur from Koloraha gave VFS a chance to change her life when the world took it away from her. Today she is thankful that she chose to strive hard with VFS instead of giving up.

Habiba, a mother of three, has been running a tailoring and garment manufacturing unit for a little more than 30 years now. Today, her manufacturing unit has become a source of livelihood for tailors in her village. While the lockdowns of the COVID19 pandemic did cast darkness in the lives around the manufacturing unit, that was temporary.

But life hadn't been a bed of roses for Habiba. Her manufacturing unit had seen days of turmoil before it saw prosperity.

Years ago, when Habiba had just arrived at her village as a new bride, the situation wasn't favourable for working women. Habiba, with a talent for stitching and knitting, had refused to bow to the societal taboos. Her husband came to her support and encouraged her to open a tailoring shop at their home.

Days turned to years, and Habiba continued to earn a small living from her shop. But soon her sales started dropping. She realised that most of her customers, who were the young women in her village didn't, have a living of their own. Most of them didn't have the luxury to earn a living because of the regressive culture that kept them in darkness forever. Habiba realised that she could not expect growth for her business when the people in her surroundingswere not growing.

Habiba decided to change the narrative that kept the talented women of her village away from prosperity. She challenged the regressive societal norms and set out on a mission to empower them. Habib realised that to grow her venture she needed capital but no one in her village was ready to give her the necessary loan.

After a long search, Habiba reached a VFS branch. And her remarkable story began.

For years, Habiba took young women from her village under her wings and trained them as expert tailors. The small manufacturing unit became a hope for the village when they finally saw what empowered women can achieve.

Customers like Habiba teach us a valuable lesson:
Wisdom comes with age, courage comes with a soul, and inspiration comes with perseverance.