From Losing Loved Ones to Lifting Others: Suhani’s Story of Hope and Courage

In one of the narrow, bustling alleys of North Kolkata, where houses lean into each other and dreams often get lost in the noise, a little girl named Suhani spent her childhood sketching on scraps of paper and humming tunes as she twirled around her tiny room. She was curious, bright, and bursting with creativity. Even as a child, Suhani had one desire: to carve her own path, to live for herself, and to be known not just as someone’s daughter or sister, but as Suhani. 

Her world was small. But her dreams were not. 

Suhani lived with her parents and elder sister in a cramped one-room home. Life was tough, but Suhani was tougher. She did well in school and often came home with certificates and praise. But when her father fell seriously ill and could no longer earn, her books were replaced by burdens. The carefree girl became the family’s backbone overnight. 

She dropped out of school and joined a paper factory to make ends meet. Then came a stint in a dance troupe. Odd jobs followed, each with its own challenges, some even unsafe and unkind. But Suhani never let go of her inner spark. Beneath the exhaustion, the fear, and the struggle, her dreams still whispered, "There’s more to life." 

Every rupee she could spare, she saved. And one day, she walked into a small beauty school and enrolled herself in a basic beautician course. It was a quiet rebellion. A step toward reclaiming her identity. 

Soon after, Suhani found her way to Joyya. 

When our team first met her, we saw more than just a young woman seeking work. We saw determination wrapped in humility, intelligence hidden beneath fatigue, and a deep hunger to grow. Suhani joined Joyya’s printing department, and for the first time in a long time, she was doing something that connected to her creative soul. 

But life had more twists in store. 

Under family pressure, she got married. A year later, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. It should have been a joyous time, but Suhani was barely out of her own adolescence. Tired from the pregnancy, emotionally drained, and grieving the recent deaths of her father and elder sister, both of whom she believed she couldn’t save due to lack of money. Suhani spiraled into postpartum depression. 

She felt crushed. Not good enough. Not strong enough. Not enough. 

But Joyya stood by her. 

She was granted six months of paid maternity leave and received monetary support through employee state health insurance for her delivery. Her supervisors checked in often. Her husband encouraged her to dream again. And somewhere in the lullabies sung to her newborn, Suhani heard the echo of her old dream, this time stronger than ever. 

She decided to try again. For her son. For herself. And for every woman who had been told to settle. 

With whatever savings she had, she enrolled in advanced beauty courses: makeup, nail art, hair styling, and more. She juggled motherhood and learning, fought through silent tears, and kept going. She rediscovered her skills, and slowly, her confidence bloomed again. 

Around this time, Joyya was looking for a trainer to lead a beauty skills program for women from the community. When our leadership team heard about Suhani’s aspirations — to teach, to uplift, to empower — they did not hesitate. Suhani was given a chance. She moved from the printing department to become one of the teachers of Joyya's vocational course. 

It started with just four students. 

Today, over sixty women have completed courses under Suhani’s guidance. These women are now running their own small salons, providing beauty services, and earning a dignified income. Most importantly, they are sending their children to school, caring for their aging parents, and dreaming of bigger things. 

Suhani does not just teach skills. She walks beside her students, helping them shop for affordable supplies, explaining concepts in a way they understand, and encouraging them every step of the way. She has turned her pain into purpose. 

"I couldn’t save my father and sister," she says softly, "but maybe I can help someone else save theirs." 

Her biggest joy? Watching her students thrive. 

"When I see them succeed, when I hear that they’ve opened a home salon or bought schoolbooks for their children, it feels like I’ve won too." 

Suhani dreams of opening her own beauty parlour someday. Not just for herself, but so she can employ more women from her community and help them write their own stories. 

She is proof that when talent meets opportunity, transformation is possible. 

At Joyya, we do not just offer jobs. We offer journeys, choice and opportunity. 

And Suhani’s journey is one of countless stories of courage, creativity, and change.

Because when you invest in women like Suhani, you do not just change one life. You spark a ripple that can transform an entire community.