Knitting to empower women - Sarbita Maharjan

Sabita Maharjan started Kirtipur Hosiery Industries with the aim of women empowerment. She provides knitting training to women from Kirtipur district. Being a survivor of domestic violence, she was determined to help women in her community find a voice. The financial contributions they make to the house hold provides them a stronger voice.

She started the venture with 4 other women about 15 years ago and currently has 125 women who work with her. She has also been helping them gain financial security through the 'Thee Niva Jaa Saving and Credit Cooperative.' The women only cooperative has approximately 375 members with 130 shareholders. Sabita's work is exemplary of a successful social entrepreneur. Her venture has grown from supplying knitted and other products to local markets, to big brand names like Sherpa Gear. She has been awarded with the Surya Nepal Asha Social Entrepreneurship Award 2011 and ChangeFusion Nepal Fellowship Grant 2012, that have helped her take the venture to new heights.