Grace Liwonde, a passionate cotton farmer from Chinguluwe, Salima, is a remarkable example of empowerment through the Women Economic Empowerment in the Cotton Value Chain (WEECVC) project. As a gender champion, Grace is committed to addressing gender issues in her community. Through training received from AICC via study circles, Grace now actively addresses problems like domestic violence and women’s abuse. She shares this knowledge with her community and her children, ensuring the next generation grows up with a strong understanding of gender equality.
Grace, a mother of a child in Form 2 at secondary school, has been able to consistently pay her child’s school fees through income from cotton farming, her business, and contributions from her Village Savings and Loan (VSL) group. Her journey began modestly, but her hard work has led to significant success. In her first year with the WEECVC project, Grace earned 150,000 Kwacha from two bales of cotton harvested from her small plot of land. Encouraged by this, she expanded her farm the following year, doubling her cotton yield and profits.
With her growing income, Grace invested in livestock and purchased a piece of land worth 350,000 Kwacha, where she plans to build a proper house after the next cotton season. This year, she also received 100,000 Kwacha from her VSL group, which she plans to use to install solar power in her home, ensuring her children can study comfortably at night.
Grace has also diversified her income by starting a fish-selling business with an initial capital of just 5,000 Kwacha, which has now grown to 50,000 Kwacha, providing additional financial stability for her family. She is also a proud member of the Mgoza Women Tailoring Business Group, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit.
Today, Grace owns eight goats and 18 chickens, a testament to how far she has come since joining the WEECVC project. Her dreams include building a proper home with iron sheets and cement, and ensuring her children receive a university-level education. Her ultimate goal is to have enough food to sustain her family throughout the year.
Grace’s story is a powerful example of how the WEECVC project has transformed her life and community, highlighting her unwavering dedication to improving her circumstances and those of the people around her.