Gita Devi had always dreamed of opening a cosmetic shop in her village of Belwariya, but because she was poor and completely illiterate, this dream was nothing more than an unrealistic fantasy. After enrolling in WLC's six month literacy course and gaining essential writing and numerical skills, she joined a Satyagyan Foundation self help group with other women from her community. There, she started saving money with the self help group. Soon she got a loan from the self help group's savings to sell various beauty and other products as a street vendor, becoming an income generating force in her household. 

 

But just as Gita was making her ascent, disaster struck. During the monsoon, her small hut was washed away in the fierce rains. However this time, Gita was armed with knowledge acquired through self help group meetings, and decided to use her newfound literacy skills to change her life. One day she visited a local government office and told an officer not only about her current problems, but her fight for literacy and empowerment. The officer, impressed, helped her enter a government housing program which gave her 125,000 rupees for building a pakka (strong) home. With her new home, new skills, and new understanding of her rights, Gita is ready to turn her dreams into a reality.