(Mrs. Monica Marandani, a proud owner of a 2^nd hand tractor bought with proceeds from her  enterprises).

Meet Monica Marandani (72) grandmother to six from ward 5 Chizhou, in Chirumanzu district. She embodies the spirit of resilience and determination that many older adults possess. Her life experiences have shaped her into a self-motivated individual who is not afraid to take risks, which is particularly noteworthy given her age.

In January 2024, Monica joined Hand in Hand Zimbabwe (HIHZ) ‘s supported SHG group Mavambo Self Help Group under the Jobs Creation Project.  Through participating in HIHZ’s six module trainings, Monica gained access to essential skills that proved invaluable.

Before joining HIHZ, Monica and her friends were rearing goats and indigenous chickens. They were operating their income generating projects on subsistence basis which made it difficult for them to realize profit. A community member however introduced them to Hand in Hand community intervention program (JCP) hence forming Mavambo Self Help Group.

The modules helped cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among Mavambo SHG. Monica began to see possibilities beyond traditional farming practices; she learned about market demands, financial management, and innovative farming techniques that could enhance productivity.

In February 2024, the group started on the Internal savings and lending scheme (ISALs) model whereby each of the six members contributed USD 5.00 per month. Group members   borrowed from this fund at an interest of 10% per month to start on and enhance their individual enterprises.

Monica through inspiration from Hand in Hand facilitators, was propelled to revive her individual enterprises in horticultural gardening, indigenous chicken production, fish farming, grinding mill and sugar cane production.

She raises indigenous chickens, that  she sells at USD 6.00 each after every three-months realizing a net income of USD 300. 00

In addition to her poultry sales, Monica also operates a grinding mill, which was a thoughtful gift from her children aimed at helping her supplement her income. She earns approximately USD 60.00 from grinding services per fortnight.She has also managed to employ two workers who assist her in projects.

(Monica ‘s diesel powered grinding mill)

Monica has significantly improved her business operations after joining Hand in Hand. Initially, she struggled with poor tracking of credit sales, which led to customers taking advantage of her. However, with proper record-keeping and aggressive marketing practices, her average monthly profit from various enterprises increased from USD 50.00 to USD 400.00.

In addition, despite facing challenges due to drought conditions affecting other farmers in Chirumanzu, Monica adopted climate-smart practices that allowed her to harvest approximately 1.5 tons of maize from a one-hectare plot. She successfully sold this maize for USD 600, pricing it at USD 30.00 per 50kg.

Moreover, Monica’s journey reflects broader themes within rural development initiatives—such as empowerment through education, collaboration among community members, and sustainable agricultural practices—that are essential for improving livelihoods in such regions.