Behind every stitch lies a story of change, boldness, and survival. Women in rural areas lead a life filled with silence, no financial autonomy, no say in decisions, and in many cases, no basic dignity, despite being the backbone of society. Amina Kanju explores how hand craftsmanship is not just an act of creation, but it is a tool of survival, resistance, and empowerment. She beautifully states that when a woman picks up a needle, she is not just sewing; she is remembering who she is. She is rewriting her story. And sometimes, she is starting a revolution — one stitch at a time. Amina Kanju is an entrepreneur, author, and columnist who walked away from the noise of the city into the heart of her village, not to escape, but to build. She founded Made in Alipur, a social enterprise empowering rural women by turning their traditional skills into sustainable livelihoods, she is redefining what grassroots impact truly means. She’s not just rewriting the narrative of rural women empowerment, she’s making it impossible to ignore. From launching a school to connecting local artisans with major brands, she has done it all. Her work is a reminder that change doesn’t arrive from the outside; it rises from within: thread by thread, voice by voice, village by village. She’s not just rewriting what rural women empowerment looks like, she’s making it impossible to ignore. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx