Singida Women Entrepreneurs have Money in Their Hands but they……….

It is an excellent start for women entrepreneurs in JUWAKI’s Singida region. The entrepreneurs at various levels benefit from AGEN’s grant. At the top left Fatuma Juma Lusinde has accessed the grant and improved her business of selling vegetables. The Iguguno village community can access more vegetables and Fatuma’s family can have delicious and nutritious food on the table. Neema Kitundu, at the top right, owns a shop; AGEN’s grant enabled her to buy more merchandise for her shop. She sells cereals and “ready made things” that are in high demand at the village. Although the community has increased access to important basic needs, Neema’s family has increased potential to send to schools both girls and boys.

If we shall talk of either iron ladies or inborn entrepreneurs, Rehema Nkya is one of them. Johnson and Rasel (AGEN members) who know her can bear witness. Like many other successful entrepreneur, Rehema Nkya diversifies products and creates new businesses for her customers. Although, Rehema has opened a new saloon to allow ladies at Iguguno and neighboring villages to beautify themselves, she is known for her delicious meals offered at her restaurant. Sharing his views, Rasel said, “in 2007, I ate chapatti (special hand prepared Tanzanian bread) and supu ya kuku (special Tanzania chicken soup which can also be consumed with several staples including maize) at her restaurant; they were extremely delicious.” Rehema’s success has enabled her to send her children, regardless of gender, to school. At the time, when AGEN founders prepared a proposal and built a case for its feasibility, they argued that some of the women entrepreneurs have sent their husbands to school. If somebody would ask us to present a specific case, we would present Rehema to them. More than four years ago, Rehema was successful enough to encourage her husband to join agricultural college for further studies. She paid most of the tuition fees and other expenses. At the same time, she continued to pay fees for her children at home. AGEN depend on her because we will send her to different places to train others and learn from them, all for the sake of women entrepreneurs in her locality.

Finally and since we are down to business, the women entrepreneurs bravely proposed things to be improved and acted upon. AGEN has addressed some of them and has devised strategies address the remaining ones. We will learn about these strategies as things unfold.