Pasio, a youth-focused program supporting entrepreneurship through finance and digital learning, has since its launch empowered thousands of young entrepreneurs across India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia with access to capital, digital tools, and business education.
Pasio has enabled access to over 90,000 loans across Sri Lanka, India, and Cambodia as of 31 March 2025, supporting youth-led ventures across farming, retail, floriculture, and more. The Pasio adventure extends to its digital journey through the offered mobile app, available in local languages, which has reached over 13,000 downloads, allowing users to manage their loan details and access emergency credit with ease. Through over 21,000 online shops, young entrepreneurs are now showcasing their businesses digitally, helping them reach new customers beyond their local markets. This digital journey is only completed through joining Pasio’s learning communities to connect with more than 14,000 youth across three countries, creating spaces to exchange ideas, learn from peers, and grow together.
As part of its ongoing commitment to financial inclusion and youth empowerment, Pasio has launched a captivating new short film showcasing the everyday journeys of young entrepreneurs in rural regions of India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia. The video provides a glimpse into how youth are building small businesses and creating new income streams with the support of microloans, digital tools, and business training offered through the Pasio programme.
Rather than dramatic transformation stories, it highlights the steady, determined progress of young entrepreneurs as they navigate daily challenges, build confidence, and grow their businesses on their own terms.
Through this visual narrative, Pasio aims to elevate the voices of rural youth and bring greater visibility to their resilience, creativity, and potential.
Real Stories of Change
Here are a few of the inspiring journeys featured in the campaign:
[India] – Hasumatiben, Esthetician
One of many similar stories is that of Hasumatiben, a 35-year-old beautician from Dahod, Gujarat, who runs a small parlour that helps support her family. She first heard about the Pasio Programme during a loan disbursement visit to the Prayas Financial Services Pvt Ltd branch, where a Pasio leader introduced her to the online shop and its WhatsApp community. Curious, she joined the group and began engaging with the shared resources, particularly tips on marketing and improving shop operations. Over time, these insights helped her expand her customer base and become more confident in managing her business. Beyond the skills, Hasumatiben says Pasio gave her something deeper - a sense of direction. Today, she continues to apply what she’s learned and encourages others in her community to explore the same path.
[Sri Lanka] – Charuka, Nursery Owner
Charuka, a 28-year-old entrepreneur from Ragala, Sri Lanka, wears many hats; she runs a tea shop, cultivates chili in a polytunnel, manages a flower nursery, and has recently begun selling gas under the brand Modern Agribusiness and Tea Shop. However, her journey was anything but linear. After leaving her job as an insurance officer due to illness, Charuka faced financial strain and uncertainty, especially with her sister’s education needing support. A small loan from Sejaya Micro Credit Ltd helped her open a tea shop with her mother. Later, through the Pasio Programme, she secured a second loan that allowed her to revive her flower nursery, invest in a polytunnel, and supply electricity to her store. With these changes came stability, confidence, and growth: her monthly income tripled. Today, Charuka is not only rebuilding her future but quietly reshaping the possibilities for young agripreneurs in her village.
[Cambodia] – Ry Sothea, Coffee Shop Owner
Just steps away from the ancient stone faces of Bayon Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, 35-year-old Ry Sothea runs a coffee stall that has quietly become a favourite among temple workers, tuk-tuk drivers, and tourists. For years, she had dreamed of expanding her menu and improving her setup, but without formal access to credit, her plans remained on hold. That changed in 2023 when she joined the Pasio Programme through MAXIMA Microfinance Plc and received a small business loan. With the funds, she upgraded her equipment and introduced cold brew and coffee flavours that quickly gained popularity with younger customers. Daily sales rose, and Sothea soon repaid her loan and took out another to continue growing. Today, she’s saving to open a mini cafe and hopes to pass the business on to her niece; proof that even in the shadows of ancient temples, ambition has room to grow.
Together, these stories reflect the quiet determination of entrepreneurs using Pasio in ways that matter most to them, on their own terms.
About Pasio
Pasio is a global initiative by Gojo & Company, Inc. in partnership with the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), designed to support young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 through income-generating loans, digital tools, and business education. Pasio helps young people, especially in rural and underserved communities, to build sustainable livelihoods.
Currently active in India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia, Pasio is implemented by Gojo’s group companies: Prayas Financial Services Pvt Ltd, Sejaya Micro Credit Ltd, and MAXIMA Microfinance. With a strong focus on digital literacy, Pasio aims to create an inclusive ecosystem where young entrepreneurs can thrive, build sustainable livelihoods, and lead positive change in their communities.
Discover more at Pasio.io
