Lucia, a widow and mother of six from Kewamamba village in Tanzania’s Tarime District, has been struggling for years to provide for her family through subsistence farming. Her income has been low and irregular. She had no access to credit and was unable to save or even to repair the leaking roof of her mud-walled house. Anxiety and worries had been her daily routine.

The turning point came when she joined the Wakulima na Wafugaji (Farmers and Livestock Keepers) Savings and Credit group. In this group, Lucia found a safe place to save and secure credit to invest in order to break the cycle of poverty. Lucia also received training on entrepreneurship and business management by the program supported by World Neighbors. Empowered by this new knowledge and new skills, she took a loan and started selling cassava and maize, which are in high demand.

The business began to generate steady income, raising her income from USD 230 to USD 790 annually. This has transformed her life and now she is able to send her children to school, buy food and pay for healthcare services for the family. In addition, she has built a better house. This success has restored her confidence and independence and ignited community recognition. She has learned that what one requires to succeed is just commitment and the prudent use of available resources and opportunities.

“I feel proud of myself,” says Lucia. “Now I can make decisions and support my children without waiting for help”, she adds.

Lucia plans to expand her business. She is now highly regarded as an inspiration and good example to other villagers as her journey is a powerful testament to how skills and determination can transform lives of rural women by building sustainable livelihoods.