Malawi-Non-profit empowers women in Mzimba with baking skills for self-reliance
Kurya Ndiko Uko, a community-based organization in Kazomba, Mzimba district, is transforming the lives of women by empowering them with baking skills, writes Alinafe Sambo.
Malawi – Kurya Ndiko Uko, a community-based organization in Kazomba, Mzimba district, is transforming the lives of women by empowering them with baking skills, writes Alinafe Sambo.
The founder of the organization, Lexa Harrison, established the non-governmental organization in 2005 to provide income-generating activities for women in poverty.
“After noticing the poverty and unproductivity of most women, I thought of bringing them together so that they can be trained in income generation activities like making shopping bags and baking," said Harrison.
"These women take these two trades as a business so that they are able to put food on their table and support their children with school fees.”
Currently, the organization is helping 17 women in Kazomba but plans to expand to other areas if funds permit.
In addition to baking skills, Kurya Ndiko Uko CBO offers livestock production and education through a nursery school called Bana Mba Tonse.
Elizabeth Chirwa, one of the beneficiaries, has been able to build a house and pay for her children's education through the proceeds of her baking business.
Another beneficiary, Linly Banda, has multiplied her initial two pigs to six, thanks to the organization's support.
Group village headman Daniel Gausi praised the organization for reducing gender-based violence by giving women the means to contribute to their households.
Kurya Ndiko Uko is making a significant impact on the lives of women in Mzimba, providing them with the skills and resources necessary for self-reliance.
According to Gausi, "The impact of Kurya Ndiko Uko CBO on the women in our community is immense. The skills they have acquired have transformed their livelihoods and households. They are now self-reliant and able to support their families without solely depending on men."
The success stories of the women in the organization have also caught the attention of the local government.
M’mbelwa District Commissioner, Lusubilo Chakaniza, praised the efforts of Kurya Ndiko Uko CBO, saying it is a great example of how communities can come together and solve their own problems.
"We need more community-based organizations like Kurya Ndiko Uko CBO that are focused on empowering women and building self-sufficient communities. The government can only do so much, but when communities come together and take ownership of their problems, solutions become more sustainable," said Chakaniza.
The impact of Kurya Ndiko Uko CBO is not limited to the women it serves.
The organization has also contributed to the local economy by creating a market for the products the women produce, such as baked goods and shopping bags.
The organization has also started selling piglets to other community members, further contributing to the local economy.
The success of Kurya Ndiko Uko CBO has inspired other women in the area to form their own groups and seek similar opportunities for self-empowerment.
Lexa Harrison and the women of Kurya Ndiko Uko CBO are proving that with determination and support, it is possible to break the cycle of poverty and build stronger, more self-reliant communities.