A mother of two children, Junu Maya, comes from a very poor Dalit family of Bhatauli Village Development Committee (VDC) of Ramechhap District. Her family was landless and used to live in a small hut built in the public land. The family of five members had terribly hard time to manage two ends meal by the little daily wage Junu Maya and her husband used to earn by crushing stone . Although they were struggling hard to manage two ends meal, they were living happily in the family. The day of Mangsir 2, 058 suddenly brought a storm of sorrow in the life of Junu Maya. The death of her loving husband Shivahari Achhami in the crossfire between RNA and rebel was a moment of an extremely unbearable pain and grief to her life. The death of her husband not only brought her a moment of grief but it added all the family responsibilities including taking care of two children and aged mother-in-law to her shoulder. Poor Junu Maya had little strength left to continue the same old profession of crushing the stone for maintaining her family at least at survival level. Her two children were too young to work and mother-in-law was too old and unable to work. She was in a state of turmoil and was not sure of how to keep the family survived.

One fine day Junu Maya came in contact of EDF of MEDEP working at Mantahli Market Centre in Ramechhap District. Since the objective of MEDEP is to raise the income of poor and the ultra-poor families and insure their livelihoods, EDF Ms. Himal Khatri,as part of her duty, has been attentive on her case and started assessing her extremely measurable situation keenly. In the process of identifying MEDEP's right target group (poor and untra-poor families, women, Dalit, Janajati et.) no doubt, in all ways Junu Maya was taken as the target recipient of the programme' support on micro-enterprise creation and development.

Until then Junu Maya was not aware of any income earning enterprise she can undertake, require skills she has or has not and the financial support she can get. As per MEDEP's process of identifying target entrepreneurs, EDF let her know the options of potential entrepreneurs that would suit her realistic situation. Meanwhile, Junu Maya shown her interest on sewing and cutting.

Once she has chosen the enterprise that she would like to undertake, she was given a weeklong entrepreneurship (SIYB) training by MEDEP at the spot. She actively participated in the training and acquired knowledge and skill to start and run an enterprise. She was also given a chance to participate in enterprise exhibition organized at district headquarter Manthali. Since she lacked sewing and dress cutting skills, MEDEP made an arrangement to admit her for a three tailoring training course in Manthali based Ramechhap Tailor for acquiring practical skills on dress stitching and cutting. After learning practical skills for some times, she developed confidence on dress stitching and cutting and decided to start her own dress stitching enterprise in her own hut at Bhatauli VDC Ward No.2.

As Junu Maya was one of the victim of the ongoing conflict, she had received a relief fund of Rs. 25,000 from the government. That amount has really been helpful for JNUN Maya in time of desperate need. She used the amount to buy sewing machine and other accessories required to start her sewing enterprise.

Now Junu Maya' new tailoring enterprise has beamed some rays of hope for her and her families living. Since there are no other sewing shops in her village, her service has a good demand. Villagers come to her for getting the dresses stitched for their children and adult family members. Though she is not yet able to stitch modern design and high standard dresses, her traditional and simply designed dresses are popularly used by the locals.

Now those days of misery and pain are gradually getting away from Junu Maya. Now she earns Rs. 250 to 300 per day which is considered to be good income at her level. After she started getting regular income from her new enterprise, there is gradual improvement in the wellbeing of her family. Her children joined the local school. According to her she also has some saving for any emergency use. Junu May says, "I never know there are organizations which help to poorest people like me. MEDEP helped me not only to be a entrepreneurs but also to earn income and prestige in the society.

Now the change occurred in the life of Junu Maya has been a centre of attention to her neighbors. They seem to be aspired by her progress and motivated to be entrepreneurs for diversifying their livelihood too.

Like Junu Maya, there are thousands of poor women, and families living in pathetic situation and unaware of such income opportunities. The programmes like MEDEP should rich out to them with specific programme to address their needs and ensure their livelihood.