In the quiet village of Mchezi, on the outskirts of Lilongwe, lives Efrida Said, a resilient mother of four. Like many women in her community, Efrida faced enormous challenges. With no employable skill and no source of income, she struggled daily to provide for her children’s basic needs food, school supplies, and clothing were constant worries.
Efrida’s story mirrors that of many Malawian women who shoulder the heavy responsibility of raising families without economic support or education. Despite her determination, the opportunities she needed to break free from poverty were out of reach.
Everything began to change in 2022, when FESODEV launched the Tawoloka Women Project an initiative aimed at empowering women, single mothers, and school dropout girls in the rural communities of Luwera, Kanengo, and Mchezi. The program, running from 2022 to 2024, sought to address one of the biggest challenges facing women in these areas: the lack of practical, income-generating skills.
Through the project, participants were offered vocational training in various trades, including Tailoring and Fashion Design, Hairdressing and Cosmetology, and Solar and Electrical Installation. The training combined technical skills with business knowledge, helping women not only to learn a trade but also to manage small enterprises and become self-reliant.
When FESODEV field officers reached her community, Efrida was among the women selected to join the program. With a mixture of hope and fear, she chose to pursue Tailoring and Fashion Design — a skill she had always admired but never thought she could learn.
“When the opportunity came, I told myself I had to try,” Efrida recalls. “At first, I didn’t even know how to hold a needle correctly. But the trainers were patient and encouraging. With time, I started to see progress. Each day, I became more confident.”
Months of training passed, and Efrida’s dedication paid off. She began sewing beautiful garments — school uniforms, dresses, and traditional wear. Her confidence grew with every piece she completed. With support from FESODEV, she also received mentorship and guidance on how to market her products and manage her income.
“I used to be nobody,” she says with pride. “But today, I am a fashion designer. I can make clothes, earn my own money, and take care of my children. I am financially independent and a happy mother.”
Today, Efrida runs a small tailoring business from her home, serving her community and earning enough to meet her family’s daily needs. Her children now attend school consistently, and she dreams of expanding her business into a small shop in the near future.
Beyond financial freedom, Efrida’s transformation has inspired other women in her community. She often shares her story with young girls and single mothers, encouraging them to believe in their potential and seize opportunities for empowerment.
“I want other women to know that they can change their story too,” she adds. “If I did it, so can they.”
