Across the vibrant communities served by Floresta Tanzania, the strength and resilience of women continue to drive transformation. As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025 under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” we reflect on the inspiring journey of Raheli, a resilient woman proving that when women thrive, families and community’s flourish.
Raheli, a 32-year-old single mother from Heikonti village in Same District, is an active member of the Tukundane group, managed by Floresta Tanzania. She is a devoted mother, determined to create a better future for her daughter.
Before joining the group, Raheli depended on farming and a wholesale shop she co-owned with her sister. However, limited capital and unpredictable climate conditions made it difficult to sustain these businesses. Some months, her business performed well, but during tough times, low sales and poor harvests made it hard to afford school fees and basic needs for her daughter. “Some months, my business did well, but other times, it was slow. In farming, drought sometimes reduced my harvests. Because of these challenges, I struggled to pay my daughter’s school fees on time, which worried me since I wanted her to get a good education. Sometimes, I also failed to provide for all her basic needs while meeting my own,” Raheli shares.
Concerned about her daughter’s future and the challenges faced by many women in her community including the risk of early marriages for girls due to financial hardship; Raheli joined the Tukundane group in 2021. Encouraged by success stories from other women in her village, she saw the group as an opportunity to save, access loans, and receive business training to secure her financial independence.
Joining the group was more than just a financial decision, it was a turning point in her life. Raheli began saving by purchasing shares in the group, which allowed her to qualify for loans that expanded her business ventures. Her first loan of Tshs 3,000,000 helped her purchase a sugarcane juice machine, which she rented out to hotels in town, providing her with a steady monthly income. “After starting the business, I felt motivated to keep working hard. I was also able to repay the loan I took from the group,” she shares.
After successfully repaying her first loan, she took a second loan of Tshs 5,000,000, which she used to revive an abandoned fish pond belonging to her father. “Through the training I received in the group, I learned that having multiple sources of income was key to financial freedom. I remembered my parents’ fish-selling business from when I was young, so I spoke to my father, and he allowed me to renovate the pond and use it for fish farming,” Raheli explains.
Determined to continue her growth, Raheli took a third loan of Tshs 7,000,000. She used part of the money to start a poultry farming business, focusing on selling chickens and eggs. She invested in chicks and built chicken coops, while the rest went into expanding the wholesale shop she co-owned with her sister by adding high demand products.
“Apart from the group being a place where I can get loans, it has also motivated me to work harder so I can repay my loans and buy more shares,” she says. With her businesses flourishing, Raheli can now comfortably support her daughter’s education and well-being. “As her only parent, I want to meet all her essential needs. I feel happy knowing she turns to me whenever she needs something, and I am grateful that I can now provide for her.”
Raheli’s success is not only transforming her life and her daughter’s life but also positively impacting other women around her, including her sister. Over the past three years, she has embraced values of discipline, hard work, and saving, becoming a strong role model for women in her community. “Most of the young women see me as someone they can look up to. I also make sure to instill these positive traits in my daughter,” Raheli shares proudly. “I make sure she sees what I do and gets involved. Now she knows the feeding ratios for the chickens and fish, and I look forward to teaching her everything I do.”
As she continues her journey, Raheli remains focused on one major goal of ensuring her daughter receives a quality education as she explains “When I look at my daughter, I see a well educated woman with a bright future thriving in life. I am committed to supporting her education at the highest level.”
Raheli’s journey is a powerful reminder and a prove that empowered women can change lives, starting with their own and extending to their communities.
By: Brenda Kuringe | Communication Specialist