My name is Shamsa. I’m 60 years old, a widow, and a mother of five grown children. I live in Hai District in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. I keep livestock and do small-scale farming in a garden near my house.
When my husband passed away twelve years ago, he left me with the responsibility of taking care of our children. Although most of them were grown, two were still completing their education. As a smallholder farmer, it was very challenging. I dreamed of having a better and bigger house, but my limited income forced me to prioritize my children’s education.
Then, my neighbor invited me to attend Plant With Purpose’s exhibition. She was a member of one of the Purpose Groups in our area. I was inspired by the performances, the knowledge the members had, the success stories shared as testimonies, and the unity among the Purpose Group members. I still remember a woman who was almost my age. She was a widow and shared how she managed to take her three children to school and build a house, all without support from her husband. Her story sparked a desire in me to join the groups, and I told my neighbor that I wanted to be part of this community.
Later that year, her neighbor informed Shamsa that a new group was being formed in their village. She joined without hesitation.
Shamsa continues, "Upon joining the group, we were trained by an officer from Plant With Purpose on the importance of savings. The training was very helpful to me because I understood that in order to get a good amount of loan, I had to invest all my shares in a week. We also received other training in environmental conservation and organic agriculture.
After saving for one year, I took my first loan to start constructing my house-a dream I had nurtured for years. Once I repaid the loan, my confidence grew, and I committed to continue investing in shares and taking loans every year until the house was complete. My dedication and persistence have enabled me to make significant progress in building my house.
I am very proud and happy about this achievement. I have constructed a modern house where I will live comfortably. There is so much happiness in achieving what you have been dreaming of. I look forward to finalizing the construction so that I can start living in my dream house.
Alongside my construction efforts, I also established a vegetable garden around my small plot near my house, applying the principles of organic and sustainable agriculture we learned during training. After starting my garden, I realized it could serve as a source of income. I carefully planted vegetables based on the training we received and had a successful harvest. I sold the produce to my neighbors and earned a surplus, which I reinvested into my savings and community contributions.
Ever since then, I have been producing vegetables in my garden for my own consumption and selling to the community.
Being part of the Purpose Group has made me a better member of society. Beyond my personal achievements, I always ensure I contribute to the community by planting trees and taking care of the environment. I now fully understand the impacts of climate change, as I see the decreasing rainfall, and I actively participate in finding solutions. The Purpose Group has also transformed my view on relationships within the community. Being part of the group taught me to value and love others, regardless of our differences in religion or background. I’ve learned that community is about support, understanding, and collective growth.
Although I am older, when I look at my achievements, I see that struggling at my age is not a burden; it’s an opportunity to prove that life can still improve if you’re willing to put in the effort.
That mindset has kept me going. And now, I encourage other women, especially widows like me, to join Purpose Groups and start investing in their lives and their communities. I want them to know that no matter your age or your past, a better life is possible.
Everything I’ve been able to achieve–my house, my farm, my growing sense of peace and purpose–has been possible because of what I’ve learned and experienced through Plant With Purpose. I am so grateful for the people who support this work. They may not know me, but they have changed my life."
