With Dreams I Dare Say My Life Is Colorful
Come across with a success story of Lucy Edward from Ifunde-Mpunze Ward of Ushetu District Council, Shinyanga Tanzania. Lucy is a Young Woman aged 20 years, she is in marriage and has 2 kids. She is a beneficiary of DREAMS Program under EpiC Project, she is a member of AMANI WORTH360 Group since October 2021. Lucy tells her story of success and challenges faced, before she joined in WORTH360 group. The interesting news is the fact that despite being struggling for getting capital to learn operating knitting machine, she decided to join in WORTH+ group to learn more about financial issues, she says; she lives a better life more than when she was not exposed to the WORTH360 groups. Below was her narration: –
Lucy Edward in her business room running her tailoring activity
Joining WORTH group
“My name is Lucy Edward, I was born in 2002, I am now 20 years old, and I live in a village called Ifunde located at Mpunze ward of Ushetu district council, Shinyanga-Tanzania. I am a wife of some body with 2 children. In my life I was not succeeded to continue with secondary school studies. After staying home with no direction, I decided to get marriage here at our village though my parents didn’t support me to be in marriage by then, of course life was not easy as I was expecting that when I will be in marriage my husband will cover everything for me. Unfortunately, my expectations came contrary. When I was in that situation scratching what should I do to assist my husband, I was told that there is a good sister at our village who possess knitting skill by using knitting machine and I was that she also accepts to train whoever wants that skills for a small money as fee.
I approached her that short course, she agreed with my request of teaching me for low cost. I stayed there for three months. Of course, I was not much better than the way I am now. One day when I was seated at home I received a guest from our nearby village. She introduced to me that her name is Helena Lyoba.
Sister Helena came at home telling me about WORTH360 with a lot of advantages when I’ll agree to join in the group. I didn’t want to lose that chance, I agreed with her to join one of her WORTH360 groups. later she came with some questions on her paper asking about my personal life, but I was humble and well responded, Helena asked me that what if we will start gathering at my home place as our group safe space for discussing and learning different matters about economic activities and sexual reproductive health, I agreed with her because she will be saving my time to walk long distance attending group sessions.
I joined a AMANI WORTH360 group where I was selected as a group chairperson up to date. Later, I became a beneficiary of DREAMS Program where I succeeded to get all DREAMS package. In the group, we were taught various topics; Loans and savings inclusively.
Lucy displays her hand craft products, she is proud of her career
I Later decided to continue attending at my trainer office for continue helping her and at the same time making my own clothes by using her machines. Later I asked my trainer to link me with the sellers of the knitting machines, I thanked God my request was not objected, because the next week she told me that in order to buy my own machine I must have Tsh.500000/= to me was not difficult thing I remember I was already started making saving to my group, so for the first time I borrowed Tsh. 50000/= different types of threads for making sweaters, scarfs, socks and towels, I used one month only to generate enough money but was not able to buy my own machine so I decided to borrow again from group I borrowed Tsh.200000/= that money I toped up to make the total of Tsh.490000/= for buying this machine. Since then, I became a famous girl at our village.
Now I continue producing different types of sweaters as you can see,
My customers are those machinga guys who vendoring in the street/villages and in schools.
One piece of sweater makes Tsh.40000/= profit.
After being famous I also started receiving some girls asking for training, I accepted their request as we talk now I have 2 trainees who are also in WORTH groups as I am.
Lucy Edward from left hand directing her trainees on how to run knitting machine
I am now having various pieces of clothes so that when customers come may choose and buy or order any design of a cloth from my office. All these are fruits of the first loan I took which came and boosted me, hence the success I tell you today
Lucy seated on the stool demonstrating the way she operates her knitting machines and at the same times telling her story about her business the guest from FHI360 who visited her for supporting her business and dareness.
My ambition
“My dream is to become popular and good designer, to time I am in a good truck as I have already started the work of art, I thank God for that and I still hope for more advancement from this work. As apart reaching my dream, I have a plan of buying electrical knitting machine that is faster than this one.
Lucy’s Advice to AGYW.
“I advise my fellow AGYW to join and keep attending in WORTH360 groups wherever they are, because they will benefit a lot and live independent lives. For AGYW who are already in the WORTH+ groups, I advice them to think on investing the money they borrow from WORTH360 group as I do.
Lastly I would like to thanks my mentor HELENA LYOBA from HUHESO foundation who came and told me the good news for my life, but also the Foundation for Human health and Social Development (HUHESO Foundation) who brought this project at our Ward.
This is how Lucy Edward has been benefiting with DREAMS program since she joined in WORTH group.
