Author: Ann Dickinson

In Ombasa, rural Kenya, Eunice Achieng, a mother of four, once relied on maize and beans, a few chickens and a cow just to keep the family going. But, as the climate changed and the soil became less fertile, costs rose, yields and profits fell. To survive, she had to work as a casual labourer on other people’s farms.

Things began to change when Eunice joined a Hand in Hand. Through training and group support, she learned how to rebuild her farm using regenerative agriculture and how to make smarter financial decisions.

Today, Eunice’s farm looks very different. Composting has helped to restore the farm’s soil and reduced the need for commercial fertiliser. Cover crops help retain moisture and keep the soil cool during hot spells, while mulching and minimum tillage protect and rebuild soil structure.

Intercropping and crop rotation have diversified yields and disrupted pest and disease cycles. A range of fruit trees provide shade, better nutrition for the family and a more resilient farm ecosystem.

Poultry now provide regular income, eggs for the household and manure for composting.

Today the farm is thriving and the impact on family life striking. Eunice no longer works on other people’s farms – she and Erick work together on their own farm, sharing tasks according to their strengths. The whole family now enjoys three meals a day, school fees are covered and they are planning to expand their home.

Before 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.