Esther grew up with 5 brothers and 3 sisters. They all studied up until 4th Grade and then worked on the family farm. Her parents had land for farming vegetables and rice, and also coconut trees and two cows.

When growing up, Palaniyammal and her sister did not attend school. Their father died while they were little, so the two girls and their mother moved in with their grandfather on their mother’s side.

Vijaya is a 35- year-old woman from one of the WTGs Who sought IGL's help to buy a milking cow in Vinayagampatty Village. She was provided with a loan of rupees 2500 ($50 U.S).

Anitha is 20 years old and lives in the village of D.Perumal Palayam, a village in southern part of India. Her husband Paramanantham works for daily wages. Anitha joined the Women’s Transformation Group (WTG).