Stories & blogs - Post
07
JanBefore joining Hand in Hand, Petronila Gobi was surviving from one season to the next in Tanzania’s Manyara region. A widow and mother of four, she depended on a single annual sesame harvest.
Across Tanzania, around 70% of people live on less than $2.15 a day, with limited opportunities to build reliable incomes. For many women, earning a living means navigating uncertainty, debt and seasonal work.
Petronila stretched every shilling. She ate once a day, slept on a mat and delayed repairs to her collapsing home. When the money ran out, she borrowed again just to buy seeds and begin the cycle once more. To earn a little extra, she wove traditional baskets from grass and reeds, selling them locally to neighbours and friends.
Her turning point came when she joined Hand in Hand. where she learned how to save regularly, budget and manage income. While she improved her farming practices, it soon became clear the sesame crop alone would never be enough to transform her prospects.
Recognising the potential in her weaving, the Hand in Hand trainer supported Petronila to turn it into a business. Together they refined designs and built a business plan. Before long, Petronila was in a position to attend her first trade fair, in Dar es Salaam, where she sold almost all her stock.
Apart from the sales success, Petronila also made some great business contacts with buyers across the country. Including one from a supplier to hotels in Zanzibar, who later placed a large order for her waste paper baskets, trays and baskets.
Today, the income from her basket weaving enterprise means Petronila eats three meals a day, is building a roadside showroom, planning a new home and is providing occasional work and income for up to 45 people.
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