Lily Akther is a familiar woman in her locality for her business. Because it is really a rare example that a woman operates a grocery shop besides a road in the Metropolitan City of Chittagong in Bangladesh. Its hard to imagine the past life of Lily Akther to seeing her present.

Once Lily lived in a slum area with her parents, a brother and a sister facing poverty and extreme adversity. Lily could not cross the boundary of High School, they could not have the regular meals and medical treatment when they were sick. Sometimes she worked as a servant in other’s houses.

In such situation, Lily became the member of a women's group of Chittagong YMCA formed under the Community Organizing Program. She followed the Rules of the group, saved regularly and listened to all the suggestions provided by the group leaders and YMCA facilitator. Within 6 months she discovered herself and felt a passionate need to change her livelihood. When the opportunity came to her, she got loan and initiated a very small grocery business. Every year she got loan and refunded from her profits and thus after five years her shop is now in a satisfactory position. With the profit of this shop Lily can mange all the expenses of her family. Through this business Lily has become self-reliant and can enjoy the pleasure of life.