Januka Rai is a young unemployed woman who was looking for an employment opportunity. But it was not that easy for Januka to find a job that match her qualification. She was just ten pass. Since she did not have any income source and had to depend on her poverty stricken parents for any expenses she needed for her personal and family requirements, she was desperately looking for income sources.

One day it has been a coincidence that she was selected as one of the potential participants in the Micro-Enterprise Development Programme (MEDEP). Since she was from a low income family, MEDEP put her in its process of micro-entrepreneurship development. After the MEDEP provided her Micro Enterprise Creation training, she has chosen the Paper Bag making enterprise as her future source of income. At the beginning, she had to struggle hard to start and continue the enterprise because neither her parents nor the neighbors supported the enterprise of her choice. However after the training provided by MEDEP, Januka was confidence and committed to run the enterprise. During the training, she was also well informed of the process for borrowing the micro-credit that may required to start and operate her enterprise.

In order to buy raw materials and basic accessories required to start up her Paper Bag enterprise, she has borrowed Rs. 7000 as loan from bank (ADBN ?). She has utilized this loan amount to establish and run the Paper Bag enterprise which, at present, has been a regular source of income to her. Now Januka is earning Rs. 5000 to 6000 a month on regular basis.

According to Januka's, her Paper Bag making enterprise is doing very well. There is growing demand for her product. Mainly the medical hall, cloth shop, sweat shops and local general shops in Dharan Itahari Bazaar are her regular costumers. According to Januka, the growing demand for the Paper Bag has heighten her level of motivation and commitments to expand the enterprise. At present, she is not only employed full time but she employed other four women as full time employees in the enterprise.

Though at the beginning her parents and even neighbors were not supportive to the enterprise Januka was undertaking, but now their attitude has been changed and they have become more respective to Januka. She has proven that the idea works well when one is committed and dedicated to do things. According to Januka, now she is economically secured, socially respected and emotionally confidence.

Thus economically empowered Januka is now motivated to diversifying her enterprises. Now, she is also undertaking candle making as a new micro-enterprise and she is thinking to expand and continue both the micro-enterprises side by side.

There are thousands of people like Januka from low income bracket who are looking for income sources but unaware of the existing opportunities. Many of them do not have entrepreneurship ideas and skills. If the development programmes/projects (GOs, NGOs) really want them to help and improve their wellbeing, it is very important to diagnose their needs, potentialities, available local resource base and support for their skills enhancement.