TAIPING: From henna art to homemade cookies and masala tea powder, Namvinsha Kaur Kreshan Singh is turning her creativity into a livelihood to build a better future for herself and her mother despite the challenges of living with a disability.
Born with achondroplasia, a form of short-limbed dwarfism, she has faced financial hardship and limited opportunities.
Although she holds a diploma in multimedia management, Namvinsha managed to work for only two weeks at two workplaces before striking out on her own.
“People would mock me and not give me the opportunity to work, so I started working as a henna artist in 2022,” the 35-year-old said in an interview.
“My journey has not been easy, with every small business representing another attempt to keep myself and my mother afloat.”
She previously offered henna services at her aunt’s boutique along Jalan Taming Sari here, but business gradually declined after her aunt died four years ago.
She and her 64-year-old mother, Harmindear Kaur, had to close the shop two months ago.
“Seeing my mother struggling emotionally, I wanted to do something to help her,” she said.
The pair began baking cookies, making masala tea powder and promoting Punjabi suits online, while Namvinsha continued to offer henna services.
Their efforts began to gain traction with help from people who promoted their products online.
Namvinsha now relies heavily on social media, particularly her TikTok account, to promote her services and products.
However, making ends meet remains a challenge. Her income from henna services is less than RM400 a month, depending on the number of orders.
“I do not know whether I will keep receiving orders for cookies and other products after the Deepavali season, but I certainly hope so,” Namvinsha said.
She remains determined to achieve financial independence.
“I want to be a role model for other persons with disabilities and show them that they, too, can build their lives independently,” she added.
