Anita’s liquor shop is named Yumi’s, after her daughter. It sits on a busy street with well-stocked shelves of liquor, sodas, and snacks. Anita’s perseverance and constant drive to rebuild her life following the death of her husband have led to the success of her business. Her husband, Asman Tamang Sherpa was working as a high-altitude porter when he died in the catastrophic ice avalanche on Mount Everest in 2014. At age 23, she became a widow, left alone to raise her two-year-old daughter and attempt to support her without any prior work experience.
Anita’s daughter, Yumi.
After connecting with The Juniper Fund and discovering her options for furthering herself, Anita attended a training course to run a beauty parlor. For six months she attended the course, learning the skills needed to own a business as well the craft of providing beauty services. Despite the experience and training she received, Anita ran into problems securing a location as she tried to open her own parlor in Kathmandu, which was experiencing a boom in population and business start-ups. Unwilling to settle for a less desirable location and risk slow business, Anita began to rethink her plan.
With growing entrepreneurial confidence and the knowledge she gained in her courses, she decided to open a liquor store instead. She secured a location and inventory and her business became an instant success, bringing her stability and independence. With her income she will provide her daughter Yumi with the best possible education, including the opportunity to study in Australia or the United States. With the foundation the and success that she has created, Anita holds the confidence that Yumi will have opportunity and a great future ahead.