(This is Linia Mhomwa’s testimonial from the AFC Empowerment Program)

In 2018 l started my new journey as a single mother after undergoing a divorce. I had so many fears and uncertainties regarding where l was going and how I would manage. At that time l was teaching at an emerging private school however the salary there was not enough for me and my children. In 2019 November l learnt about the Agape Family Care Skills Training Program through which Ruth Emmanuel-Makandiwa would Empower Women implemented by the Livelihoods Program. I requested for some morning offs from work and l attended the two week Training.

 

The training was worthwhile and I developed a new perspective. The training we received comprised of various cosmetic products but l fell in love with Petroleum jelly. I developed a desire for entrepreneurship. In 2020 I resigned from work so I could have a fresh start whilst focusing on my newfound business. I began to make Petroleum Jelly in small quantities that I would sell to individuals. As the small enterprise grew I began to produce bigger quantities of Petroleum jelly. I managed to approach some local shops and one leading supermarket accepted my products and they made an order of 3 cartons of each size for their 13 shops. I went further to approach other large supermarkets; though my brand made a good impression what limited me was my capacity and ability to supply the required large quantities since they needed to see the stock for assurance of consistency in supply.

 

Currently I am now supplying other small shops and supermarkets around Harare consistently. I am grateful for the impact of this empowerment program as I managed to survive the lockdown. I wonder what could have happened if l had remained working because the school I worked for was severely affected by the lockdown. I have learnt quite a lot so far from November 2019 after Life skills graduation. I now have a bigger picture regarding my brand Lin’Rue and business in general. I feel alignment is taking place and lam so thankful to the Agape Family Care Team. To Ruth Emmanuel-Makandiwa I say thank you for this grand initiative; I wonder what life could have been like especially in the lockdown; I survived because of this training. I now also have a brand of my own and l have learnt quite a lot about business. I am not the same as yesterday and l have grown so much confidence. I don’t even feel the negative impact of being a single parent.

 

To Ruth Emmanuel-Makandiwa I say thank you for this grand initiative; I wonder what life could have been like especially in the lockdown; I survived because of this training. I now also have a brand of my own and l have learnt quite a lot about business.