Monthly Updates
September 2025
Rin's Resilience: The Small Store That Became A Lifeline
Cambodia Blog
Cambodia Blog
Phnom Penh | September 2025 — For Rin, a single mother of two in Cambodia, the sudden loss of her husband meant the weight of her family’s future fell entirely on her shoulders. Running a small store at home offered minimal income, and the struggle was so severe that her 20-year-old daughter was forced to skip school to work, helping to cover basic food and daily needs. The hardship was compounded by the fear of a medical emergency, which always meant overwhelming bills.
The ESi Mom Program provided a turning point. As ESi Mom members in her community began using their ESi Pay digital accounts to buy goods from her, Rin's store transformed. Her daily income skyrocketed from $2.50 to $12.00, allowing her to stock more supplies and grow her business.
Combined with the $15 per week basic income from ESi Mom, Rin no longer worries about food. She can now save her store earnings to pay rent, utilities, and build a vital emergency fund for when sickness inevitably strikes.
Most powerfully, the support means her daughter no longer has to choose work over her future. Rin's dream is now secured: to see her daughter get a higher education.
Phnom Penh
September 2025
For Rin, a single mother of two in Cambodia, the sudden loss of her husband meant the weight of her family’s future fell entirely on her shoulders. Running a small store at home offered minimal income, and the struggle was so severe that her 20-year-old daughter was forced to skip school to work, helping to cover basic food and daily needs. The hardship was compounded by the fear of a medical emergency, which always meant overwhelming bills.
The ESi Mom Program provided a turning point. As ESi Mom members in her community began using their ESi Pay digital accounts to buy goods from her, Rin's store transformed. Her daily income skyrocketed from $2.50 to $12.00, allowing her to stock more supplies and grow her business.
Combined with the $15 per week basic income from ESi Mom, Rin no longer worries about food. She can now save her store earnings to pay rent, utilities, and build a vital emergency fund for when sickness inevitably strikes.
Most powerfully, the support means her daughter no longer has to choose work over her future. Rin's dream is now secured: to see her daughter get a higher education.
NEPAL BLOG
NEPAL BLOG
Mothers Experience A Festival Of Happiness With Support From EinStrong Foundation
Barahakshetra, Sunsari | September 2025 — Dashain, the biggest Hindu festival in Nepal, brings both celebration and challenges for many families. This year, mothers in Barahakshetra Municipality experienced the festival differently for the first time, with support from the Einstrong Foundation. Across Wards 1 to 11, women received essentials that brought food, comfort, and dignity to their homes. The foundation’s efforts give single mothers more than stability they give hope. For families who once faced scarcity during the festival, the support transformed fear into celebration, allowing children and mothers to enjoy Dashain with joy and reassurance.
Barahakshetra, Sunsari
September 2025
Dashain, the biggest Hindu festival in Nepal, brings both celebration and challenges for many families. This year, mothers in Barahakshetra Municipality experienced the festival differently for the first time, with support from the Einstrong Foundation. Across Wards 1 to 11, women received essentials that brought food, comfort, and dignity to their homes. The foundation’s efforts give single mothers more than stability they give hope. For families who once faced scarcity during the festival, the support transformed fear into celebration, allowing children and mothers to enjoy Dashain with joy and reassurance.
ESI MOM PROGRAM TRANSFORMING FAMILIES SAYS HEAD OF WARD 10
Barahakshetra, Sunsari | September 2025 — Ward Head Tej Bahadur Gurung says life in Ward 10 of Barahakshetra Municipality was once extremely difficult for families especially single mothers. Children often missed school to help at home, and mothers worked long hours with little or no income. This month, the ESi Mom Program ensured mothers across Wards received daily support helping them provide food, manage households and send children to school. The program’s guarantee of consistent assistance is giving single mothers more than security it is giving them hope. Families who once faced constant hardship are now seeing brighter days, with children attending school and mothers empowered to care for their families.
Barahakshetra, Sunsari
September 2025
Ward Head Tej Bahadur Gurung says life in Ward 10 of Barahakshetra Municipality was once extremely difficult for families especially single mothers. Children often missed school to help at home, and mothers worked long hours with little or no income. This month, the ESi Mom Program ensured mothers across Wards received daily support helping them provide food, manage households and send children to school. The program’s guarantee of consistent assistance is giving single mothers more than security it is giving them hope. Families who once faced constant hardship are now seeing brighter days, with children attending school and mothers empowered to care for their families.
Monthly Updates
August 2025
CAMBODIA BLOG
CAMBODIA BLOG
ESI MOM PROGRAM HELP MOK FROM PICKING GARBAGE TO PICKING HOME
Phnom Penh | August 2025 — In the heart of Cambodia, Mok, a single mother of five, faced a daily battle for survival. Her world revolved around collecting garbage, an exhausting effort to earn just enough to feed her children and chip away at a mountain of debt. It was a life of constant worry, where every cent was accounted for and the simple act of buying food was a source of stress.
Mok's greatest challenge was not just providing for her family, but protecting their future. She recalls a poignant moment when one of her children, seeing her struggle, wanted to join her scavenging. But Mok, with a mother's fierce determination, insisted he stay home and focus on his studies. "My dream is to see you study and graduate," she told him. It was a dream that felt impossibly far away.
Then, a beacon of hope appeared in the form of the ESi Mom program. With the financial assistance provided by the program, Mok's burden began to lift. The support meant she could finally use her scavenging income to pay down her debts. It also transformed her relationship with food. No longer did she worry about where the next meal would come from, as she could now pay for food and cooking essentials by simply scanning a her ESi Mom account QR code account. Her family now has enough to eat, bringing a new sense of peace to their home.
Mok's story is a powerful testament to the ESi Mom program's impact. The support has allowed her to shift her focus from day-to-day survival to securing a better future for her children. "Now my main focus is only to make sure my children go to school regularly," she says. Her joy is evident as she speaks of her children returning from school to a happy home with food on the table.
Mok’s journey from a life of hardship to one of hope and stability is an inspiration to us all. Her resilience and unwavering love for her children, combined with the support of the ESi Mom program, have created a brighter path forward for her family.
Barahakshetra, Sunsari
August 2025
In the heart of Cambodia, Mok, a single mother of five, faced a daily battle for survival. Her world revolved around collecting garbage, an exhausting effort to earn just enough to feed her children and chip away at a mountain of debt. It was a life of constant worry, where every cent was accounted for and the simple act of buying food was a source of stress.
Mok's greatest challenge was not just providing for her family, but protecting their future. She recalls a poignant moment when one of her children, seeing her struggle, wanted to join her scavenging. But Mok, with a mother's fierce determination, insisted he stay home and focus on his studies. "My dream is to see you study and graduate," she told him. It was a dream that felt impossibly far away.
Then, a beacon of hope appeared in the form of the ESi Mom program. With the financial assistance provided by the program, Mok's burden began to lift. The support meant she could finally use her scavenging income to pay down her debts. It also transformed her relationship with food. No longer did she worry about where the next meal would come from, as she could now pay for food and cooking essentials by simply scanning a her ESi Mom account QR code account. Her family now has enough to eat, bringing a new sense of peace to their home.
Mok's story is a powerful testament to the ESi Mom program's impact. The support has allowed her to shift her focus from day-to-day survival to securing a better future for her children. "Now my main focus is only to make sure my children go to school regularly," she says. Her joy is evident as she speaks of her children returning from school to a happy home with food on the table.
Mok’s journey from a life of hardship to one of hope and stability is an inspiration to us all. Her resilience and unwavering love for her children, combined with the support of the ESi Mom program, have created a brighter path forward for her family.
CAMBODIA BLOG
CAMBODIA BLOG
EINSTRONG FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTED ESI CARDS TO MOTHERS ACROSS BARAHACHHETRA MUNICIPALITY
Barahakshetra, Sunsari | August 2025 — This month the ESi Mom Program enrolled 122 additional single mothers, bringing total support to 1,062 in Barahakshetra Municipality. Activities took place in Wards 1, 3, and 7, where mothers gathered to receive their ESi ID cards. The cards were distributed with the support of local government and ward representatives across Wards 1 to 11. Data was collected and verified to include mothers who had been missed in earlier registration phases. This expansion strengthens local systems and ensures that families are better equipped to secure children’s education and overall well-being.
Barahakshetra, Sunsari
August 2025
This month the ESi Mom Program enrolled 122 additional single mothers, bringing total support to 1,062 in Barahakshetra Municipality. Activities took place in Wards 1, 3, and 7, where mothers gathered to receive their ESi ID cards. The cards were distributed with the support of local government and ward representatives across Wards 1 to 11. Data was collected and verified to include mothers who had been missed in earlier registration phases. This expansion strengthens local systems and ensures that families are better equipped to secure children’s education and overall well-being.
HOW ESI SUPPORT IS TRANSFORMING SCHOOL
Barahakshetra, Sunsari | August 2025 — At Shree Dhanjit Basic School, years of poverty, household responsibilities and limited parental involvement once kept many children away from the classroom. Attendance was irregular, learning stalled and futures dimmed. Since the launch of the ESi Mom Program, this picture has begun to change. Today, more than 60 children out of the school’s 300 students are enrolled through the initiative all with full attendance and renewed motivation to learn. Their consistency has inspired classmates, lifting overall daily attendance from below 40 percent in previous years to over 80 percent today. “This program has restored trust in education, ” says Principal Bhojraj Kafle. “It is changing lives and ensuring every child has the chance to succeed.”
Barahakshetra, Sunsari
August 2025
At Shree Dhanjit Basic School, years of poverty, household responsibilities and limited parental involvement once kept many children away from the classroom. Attendance was irregular, learning stalled and futures dimmed. Since the launch of the ESi Mom Program, this picture has begun to change. Today, more than 60 children out of the school’s 300 students are enrolled through the initiative all with full attendance and renewed motivation to learn. Their consistency has inspired classmates, lifting overall daily attendance from below 40 percent in previous years to over 80 percent today. “This program has restored trust in education, ” says Principal Bhojraj Kafle. “It is changing lives and ensuring every child has the chance to succeed.”
Monthly Updates
July 2025
NEPAL BLOG
NEPAL BLOG
HOW SUPPORT FROM ESI TRANSFORMED SABITRI’S LIFE
Barahakshetra, Sunsari | July 2025 — Sabitri’s life changed forever when her husband was swept away by the Koshi River four years ago. Left alone with two young children and suffering from a chronic stomach illness, she was forced to send her children to work as daily laborers just to survive. School was no longer an option, it was about putting food on the table. Since joining the ESi Mom program, Sabitri now receives a weekly basic income that covers food, clothing, and other essential needs. Her children no longer work in the fields, they now attend school regularly with perfect attendance. Sabitri has also learned bamboo weaving, giving her a new source of income and pride. Today, she dreams of a brighter future where her children can grow up with opportunity, dignity, and hope.
Barahakshetra, Sunsari
July 2025
Sabitri’s life changed forever when her husband was swept away by the Koshi River four years ago. Left alone with two young children and suffering from a chronic stomach illness, she was forced to send her children to work as daily laborers just to survive. School was no longer an option, it was about putting food on the table. Since joining the ESi Mom program, Sabitri now receives a weekly basic income that covers food, clothing, and other essential needs. Her children no longer work in the fields, they now attend school regularly with perfect attendance. Sabitri has also learned bamboo weaving, giving her a new source of income and pride. Today, she dreams of a brighter future where her children can grow up with opportunity, dignity, and hope.
SINGLE MOTHERS EMPOWERED THROUGH FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOP
Barahakshetra, Sunsari | July 2025 — In Barahakshetra, the ESi Mom Financial Literacy Workshop brought together hundreds of our ESi Moms to build confidence in managing their finances through the ESi mobile app. Participants learned to monitor their weekly basic income balances, send and receive funds using the app or their ESi ID cards, and understand key concepts of financial literacy. The training also equipped them to track USD exchange rates and negotiate more effectively with local merchants—ensuring fair pricing when using ESi App to make purchases. This initiative emphasized the importance of financial awareness and self-reliance within the ESi Mom community.
Barahakshetra, Sunsari
July 2025
In Barahakshetra, the ESi Mom Financial Literacy Workshop brought together hundreds of our ESi Moms to build confidence in managing their finances through the ESi mobile app. Participants learned to monitor their weekly basic income balances, send and receive funds using the app or their ESi ID cards, and understand key concepts of financial literacy. The training also equipped them to track USD exchange rates and negotiate more effectively with local merchants—ensuring fair pricing when using ESi App to make purchases. This initiative emphasized the importance of financial awareness and self-reliance within the ESi Mom community.
