Eugen Nhlanhla from Ward 24 of Mutasa district where Family AIDS Caring Trust – Zimbabwe is implementing a The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
and USAID Zimbabwe (USAID) supported #ChildrenTariro project, has begun realizing dividends from her fishery project she established in 2013.
Her participation in Income, Savings and Lending Schemes (ISALS) known as ‘mukando’ facilitated by FACT Zimbabwe, Eugen is part of a 20 member group called Chiedza which received training on financial literacy, market identification, positive parenting, business and asset management. The group decided to make use of available resources and knowledge to improve their livelihoods, allowing them to pay school fees for their children and meet medical expenses.
Having started with one pond in 2013, to date, Eugen has managed to build five functional ponds which allow her to effectively manage her produce. The fisheries have seen her reaping fish weighing 1.8 kilograms to 2 kilograms which she sells to the local community and local meat outlets. She has recently diversified to breeding and selling fish fingers to potential and aspiring fish farmers.
“The ISALs have significantly changed my life and that of other group members. We can now sustain our families with the various individual and group activities we are currently doing. It is possible to change your life and that of your family given the right knowledge on managing a business,” said Eugen.