Saudamini Badhei stood in her dark, empty kitchen, staring at the lifeless stove. The walls seemed to echo the silence that had filled her life ever since her husband passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her once-bustling roadside hotel, where the aroma of fresh breakfasts and simmering curries had welcomed hungry travellers, now stood shut—a painful reminder of everything she had lost.
With four young daughters to care for and no source of income, Saudamini’s days felt endless and her nights sleepless. She often skipped meals so her children could eat, but the weight of their uncertain future pressed heavily on her heart.
“What if I can’t feed them tomorrow?” she would whisper to herself in the darkness.
She wanted to reopen the hotel, to bring back the warmth and laughter it once held, but without money for even the most basic supplies, the dream seemed impossible.
Then came ABWCI—a light in her darkest hour.
When Saudamini shared her story with ABWCI, they didn’t just listen; they acted. They saw her courage hidden behind her tears and decided to help her rebuild her life. They provided her with everything she needed—groceries, oil, utensils, plates, and even modern kitchen tools. But more than that, they gave her something she had lost hope.
The first time Saudamini lit her stove again, she broke down in tears. The fire wasn’t just cooking food; it was reigniting dreams.
Word spread quickly in the village that Saudamini’s hotel was back. Customers began returning, one by one. The laughter of strangers filled the air, and the clinking of plates replaced the silence that had haunted her home for months.
“For the first time in months, I felt alive,” Saudamini said, smiling as she served piping hot meals to her customers.
Today, Saudamini earns ₹10,000–₹12,000 a month. Her daughters are back in school, their smiles brighter and their dreams bigger. She no longer worries about survival; instead, she plans to expand her business and inspire other women in her village to rise above their struggles.
Saudamini didn’t just rebuild her hotel—she rebuilt her faith in herself.
And as she stirs a steaming pot of curry, surrounded by happy customers, Saudamini knows she’s not just cooking food; she’s cooking up a better future for her family.
There are more women like Saudamini waiting for their second chance.
Help ABWCI empower them—one dream at a time.
