By Pritesh Kamble, Head Inclusion Unit, CYDA
Mustafa, a transwoman from Kerala, shared, “We are judged by our actions. If we do well, society will slowly begin to accept us. If we reach out to society, it will reach out to us.“Her words reflect hope, courage, and trust. They show that change is possible-perhaps slowly-but it can happen. Mustafa’s life is an example of this belief. But behind her confidence lies a journey filled with rejection, pain, and silent battles.
Challenges
Mustafa grew up in a conservative Muslim joint family. From a young age, her feminine nature was visible, which made her a target of judgment and rejection within her own home. As she entered adulthood, her identity was no longer tolerated. Her family forced her to quit school after 8th std. Education was never a priority for them. Instead, she was made to work, with the belief that spending time with “normal” people might somehow change her.
She found work at a local shop, but the experience was painful. Colleagues and customers often humiliated her and made her feel unwelcome. Her quest for equality seemed like a never-ending process.”Some people were kind… but they still paid me less,” she shared. She changed jobs several times, but people’s mindset remained the same. Her appearance made others uncomfortable, and this left her feeling isolated.
She revealed her identity to a friend who offered her to join him in door-to-door sales. However, starting a business was tough. She had very little money and needed an investment to make it work. Many refused to give her goods on credit and doubted her ability simply because she was transgender. She tried her luck in urban areas, but higher living costs and pricing issues in rural markets made it harder. Despite working across districts, she remained stuck-both financially and emotionally.
Interventions
Mustafa’s journey took a turn when she came across a message in her local transgender group about a business training by CYDA. She reached out to Sandhya, a community mentor, and immediately enrolled in that. The two-day training helped her understand the basics of entrepreneurship in a simple and practical way. She learned how to manage profits, choose business locations, handle customer behaviour, and plan investments. “This training was worth Rs. 10,000, but we received it free-and, more importantly, with dignity,” she shared. Along with the training, Mustafa also received Rs. 10,000 as seed capital. She invested this in buying a bulk stock of cosmetics and health care products. Earlier, she used to keep borrowing money from one person to repay another. But after the EDP, the scenario changed. She started saving money and joined a savings group due to better planning and increased sales.
Impact
Mustafa’s weekly profit increased from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 4,000. Motivated by the training, she started visiting government offices to sell her products. The staff were surprised-both by her confidence and the fact that a transgender woman was running a business independently. Many of them became regular customers and supported her journey. Mustafa’s story created a shift in her life as well as in the minds of those around her. “People started thinking differently about us (LGBTQIA+ Community), they realised we can also work hard.” Her growth became a source of pride for her community. She proved that with dignity, knowledge, and support, transformation is possible. Her message to others in the LGBTQIA+ community remains strong, “Never stop trying.”
