It’s only been a few months since attending VFWT’s Women’s Value Chain Addition and Agribusiness Training Programs, but already, the twenty women who participated are realising life-changing benefits. Below, we hear two very sincere testimonials from two of these special ladies — Priscilla Moyo, and Soneni Moyo. They talk about their homes, their families, their work, and they give us insight into what the training meant for them.

A New Path for Women Farmers

Meet Priscilla Moyo (below), a farmer from Kachechete Ward. Like many women in her community, Priscilla grows crops, raises chickens, and keeps livestock. Before joining VFWT’s training programs, she struggled to expand her income streams and relied on traditional methods to sustain her family of three grandchildren. But after hearing the success stories from her peers, Priscilla felt inspired to attend the Value Addition Training in November.

“I am very grateful for the training and support. It has given me new ideas and opportunities to improve my farming and better care for my family.”

Priscilla Moyo,

Farmer

Priscilla learned how to turn raw agricultural produce into higher-value products and gained valuable insights into starting a small business. Armed with these new skills, Priscilla is now transforming her approach to farming and entrepreneurship.

Turning Challenges Into Opportunities

Priscilla realized the untapped potential of her groundnut farming. Previously focused on subsistence farming, she has now committed to expanding her production to a commercial scale. Her plan includes roasting and selling her groundnuts—a move that will significantly increase her profits.

Priscilla is also a chicken farmer. A lack of electricity and refrigeration in her rural area used to limit her to selling them live. Thanks to the training, Priscilla now slaughters and dries some of her chickens, extending their shelf life to seven days. This not only reduces feeding costs but also provides a new revenue stream for her family.

Additionally, with the annual sorghum seeds provided by VFWT, Priscilla intends to bake and sell bread and buns, further diversifying her income sources.

We have seen firsthand how these skills create ripples of positive change in the communities in which these women live.

USD 5000 will allow another 20 women to receive

these life-changing skills.

A Vision for Sustainable Livelihoods:

VFWT’s Agribusiness and Financial Literacy Training and Value Addition Training programs are designed to equip communities with the skills needed to thrive. By teaching women like Priscilla and Soneni how to budget, market, and add value to their agricultural produce, VFWT is empowering them to take ownership of their futures while promoting eco-friendly practices that support wildlife conservation.

A Ripple Effect in the Community

The impact of VFWT’s training programs extends beyond individual participants. Priscilla has started working with a group of women in her village to pool resources and launch a business in time for the Christmas season. This collaborative effort exemplifies the program’s goal of building community resilience and fostering collective economic growth.

Meet Soneni Moyo (below) – a farmer and livestock keeper who shares her story on how her eyes were opened by the recent trainings.

“In November, we learnt valuable agricultural business and value-addition skills. For example, we were taught a new method to prepare groundnuts. Instead of just giving away our excess groundnuts, we can now prepare and sell them, giving us more money. With proper packaging and adhering to necessary standards, we can also sell them to tourists at Victoria Falls hotels, shops, and the airport.”

Soneni Moyo, Farmer

Will you help us run another livelihoods training program so that we can continue to empower communities and create a future where people and wildlife thrive together?

USD 5000 will cover two week long training courses for 20 women and include the costs of the supplies, training, venue and transport for all involved.

Priscilla and Soneni’s stories are stories of resilience, resourcefulness, and hope. With their newfound skills and determination, they are improving their family’s quality of life, ensuring their grandchildrens’ education, and inspiring their communities to adopt sustainable, conservation-friendly livelihoods.

Thank you for being part of the solution.

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Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust | PO Box 23183, San Diego, CA 92193 www.vicfallswildlifetrust.org
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