LIKUNI DORCAS WOMEN ENGAGE IN SELF EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

In a world where Women are expected to be caregivers and home makers, a group of Dorcas women from Likuni pastoral District have ventured into activities aimed at breaking free from the shackles of poverty and dependence. They are revolutionizing their lives by teaching each other practical skills in cookery, baking and soap making.

To them, learning these skills is not just about acquiring a new hobby or improving their domestic duties but also to gain economic independence, building confidence and creating a better life for themselves and their families.

“I was struggling to make ends meet but since I joined the Dorcas women, I have learned how to make soap and bake scones. These I can now sell and earn a steady income," Tilibe Mtemula, a 30 year-old mother of two said.

This training program is designed to equip women with practical skills that can be used to generate income. The program covers topics such as cooking, baking, soap making and entrepreneurship.

In her remarks, Agnes Mwale who is the president for Likuni District Dorcus women said empowering women is key to building stronger communities. She added that providing women with practical skills is key to giving them the tools they need to take control of their lives and create a better future for themselves and their families.

The impact of the program is already felt in the community as most of the women who completed the training program have started their own small scale businesses where they are able to sell soap, baked food items and other products to their neighbors and at local markets.

“I am able to send my children to school because I can now make enough money from the small scale business that I make," Jane Mtambalika from Chigwirizano church said.

As Dorcas Women continue to empower each other with practical skills, they are also creating a ripple effect of positive change in the community. By supporting women’s economic empowerment, they are helping to build stronger and more resilient families and communities.

On her part, Shepherdess Gloria Matekenya alluded to the fact that they are not just teaching women how to cook or make soap but also giving them the tools that are needed for them to create a better future for themselves and their families.

Francis Mkanya

CMC Media