EpiC Project Strengthened My Income
STELLA LAZARO is a beneficiary of EpiC Project, She is a member of FURSA WORTH group. Stella lives at Shaka Village of Bulungwa ward, Ushetu DC – Shinyanga. WORTH Group has benefited her to the extent that she has a testimony to tell. The following is a testimony of her success.
Stella at her shop
“My name is Stella Lazaro, I am a Young woman aged 23 years of age. I am married, I have two children. I live at Shaka Village which is in Ushetu District Council. I am a member of Wanawake FURSA WORTH Group.
Before the EpiC project my life had no direction though I was already in marriage, due to fact that depending on the seasonal farming activities only is not enough to reach the standard life, my husband is a peasant, apart from farming activity he tried so many businesses with no success, I noted the reasons of failing in running businesses as illiteracy in financial principle, small capital and type of businesses were started by then.
Stella sells exercise book to DREAMS PO
In 2020 I joined Wanawake FURSA WORTH Group due to the influence of my friend and my Empowerment worker, Prisca Sigara. After joining a group my desire was to be skilled in financial principles, business opportunity and business plan as our mentor told me that when I will be started attending group meetings there some business matters, reproductive health issues, and general behavior change and communication will be taught for self-control as a young woman. In two months we learnt different issues in economic principles and entrepreneurship is where the idea of saving and loans entered my mind.
DREAMS PO documenting Stella’s success story
We actually agree to make savings of 1000/= every week when we meet, at the third month I borrowed 50000/= I started my small shop with few products, my husband also topped up with 150000/= to add more product for selling. The borrowing and repayment was continuous while my business also growing fast because I knew the way to manage my shop I didn’t allowed anybody to stay in the shop even to ask his help to run my shop in my absence I knew there could be a loss of money and some products.
My business kept on growing; selling rice, soaps and cooking oil exercise books, petroleum jelly, pencils just mentioned few. Nowadays I have rent a room at bugomba ‘B’ Bulungwa which is a bigger center than that of our village; I use a room as a shop where I sell various commodities. I thank God my business is advancing because I started with one item but now I sell more than ten commodities. Indeed my income is strengthened!
DREAMS PO with WANAWAKE FURSA group memebers which is also Stella’s WORTH+ group
My Expectation
My expectation is to have a big shop and run it as a whole seller to other small entrepreneurs but also to buy farms for expanding our farming activities and contribute on construction of our family house
Stella Lazaro says “I wish I knew and joined WORTH GROUP many days ago. Now I am very helpful to my husband and the entire family. My progress indicates a smooth path towards my excellence. I hope some days to come I will own a big shop.
I also with other girls and young women who are not in WORTH Group to join and start saving so that later they may borrow and start investing as I am doing.
Some group members of WANAWAKE FURSA WORTH+ group with DREAMS PO after the supportive supervision.
Acknowledgement
Lastly I can’t forget and skip to say thank you my teacher Prisca Sigara who revealed me and brought me to the WORTH group, but also I extend my gratitude to HUHESO Foundation and EpiC project and I pray for all of you for what you are doing in our community.
Thank you and you are welcome’’
This how the EpiC project strengthened Stella’s income as she was narrated her own success story. The EpiC project through HUHESO Foundation will continue to give her support through education and visiting her for mentorship.
