"My mum tells many stories of how I used to help people, even when I was a young child.
I remember one time I was at the milling machine. A 12-year old girl came in. The girl's grandmother had died, and her aging grandfather had sent her more than 200km to look for her mother, in our village.
I was the first to help her. There were 6 women there, but they all left without helping her, I felt very bad. She didn't know where to go. I had to think hard. I advised her to go to the police station or to the radio station in Iringa to make an announcement. I gave her all my money for milling, and took her to the bus stop.
That's just one of many stories that describe my passion for helping people.
I had to struggle for my education. I was born in a very poor family that relied on subsistence farming. My father died when I was 3 and my mum was fighting to the maximum to give us food to eat and other basic needs, though she didn’t always manage.
There was a point when my family failed to support my education but I was performing very well in class. My mum encouraged me to study hard saying that, education is the only thing that will help you in future.
I remember when I was finishing primary school, my mum asked me a question “what are you going to do after?" I confidently replied that I wanted to go for secondary education. She looked at me quietly without adding any word, then she went inside the house. I was so scared, I thought I made a mistake which made my mum angry but actually it was not that, she was deeply thinking how she will manage to make my dreams come true with that very little that she earns.
She got the idea of going to seek for help from the government, where she got a chance for a bursary from Camfed. I started a new journey with lots of hope inside. I went right up to university, and have a BSc in Agricultural education from Sokoine University.
At school I didn't like the way the teachers used corporal punishment, I think there are better ways to teach children, and although it is not easy, I think together we can do something to change this.
That's one of the reasons I turned down a secure government job to work for Lyra. It was a tough decision, but I believe that working with Lyra I can use all of my ability, knowledge and skills to help the poor and marginalised women and young generation.
I have dreams and ambitions of unlocking their existing potential. I know we can change the society if everyone will plays his/her role. We need to help the community to recognise and utilise what they have. I am working with the schools and VSLAs to set up chicken and farming projects to produce food for the girls' dormitories.
I am very confident and committed to work with the Lyra team.
Mother Teresa said “It’s not how much we give but what matters is how much love we put into giving". I like this statement very much and it will lead me when I execute my work. Wherever I will be, giving communities a variety of skills and loving them!
