Before Sangli knew whether she could attend Barli Institute, she bought a sewing machine.

Sangli grew up in Bardala, a village in Madhya Pradesh’s Alirajpur District. Her parents and eight siblings relied on seasonal migration and daily wage labor, and no one in her family had received a formal education. Immediate income took priority over longer-term opportunities.

Sangli envisioned a different future: she wanted to learn tailoring and open her own business.

When her family initially refused to let her enroll at the Barli Institute in Indore, she found another way forward. While working as a seasonal laborer in Gujarat, Sangli saved part of her wages. She used the money to purchase a sewing machine and returned home with tangible evidence of her commitment.

Her determination changed the conversation. Her family agreed to let her enroll in Barli’s six-month residential training program.

At Barli, Sangli learned tailoring while developing leadership and life skills and exploring sustainable practices such as solar cooking. The experience gave her practical tools to act on the confidence she already possessed.

Today, Sangli runs her own tailoring business in Bardala and earns a steady income that helps support her family.

"Buying that sewing machine was a risk, but it became my ticket to freedom,” she says.

Her father, who once feared letting her leave for training, now sees possibilities he had not imagined.

“Sangli showed us a future we couldn’t see,”  he says. “Watching her run her own business with dignity and support our family has filled us with pride.”

Sangli is also sharing what she learned with others. With support from Barli, she installed a solar cooker at her home and demonstrates its use to neighbors—encouraging renewable energy, reducing reliance on firewood, and supporting the conservation of local resources.

Sangli’s story shows how confidence and opportunity can strengthen one another. She began with a clear vision, earned the money for her own equipment, and persuaded her family to reconsider what was possible. Education helped her turn that conviction into skills, a livelihood, and new ways to contribute to her community.

The Barli Development Institute for Rural Women, a Mona partner since 2004, provides a six-month residential program in literacy, numeracy, vocational skills, and community development, giving young women from Madhya Pradesh’s rural villages the confidence and tools to earn an income, live a life of their choosing, advocate for equality, and lead social transformation in their communities.

The opportunity Sangli created continues to grow—through her business, her contributions to her family, and the knowledge she shares with those around her.

Story and quotations adapted from Barli Institute’s July 2026 partner report.