Teclah Makoni from Hamudikuwanda B Village. She lives with her husband and four children (two boys and two girls). Teclah is a very hard working woman and a true reflection of an empowered woman who is health conscious, a decision that was influenced by her experience of giving birth at home. The experience made her better understand the plight of rural women who struggle to access health care and thus values Mandeya 2 Development Organisation’s health awareness campaigns.

Teclah is a community facilitator on Sexual Reproductive Health and works in communities together with others who were also trained by Mandeya 2 Development Organisation. She also is a facilitator on topical issues such as HIV/Aids, Cholera, Malaria and many other diseases. She works with children and youths and always encourages them to abstain from all forms of sexual activities.  She was initially trained to be a malaria tablets holder, but later on she was trained to be a midwife. Teclah is now a recognised and respected Village Health Worker as well as community focal person. One of her duties is to motivate people including those suffering from malaria as well as pregnant women to seek healthcare at the nearest clinic. On average she attends to about 2 people per day at her house.

“I am a respectable woman in our area. I was very shy at first but being exposed to so many trainings made me very brave. I am able to empower fellow community members with information on health,” Teclah said.

Her participation in the Mandeya 2 Development Organisation programmes has raised her confidence, self-esteem as well as her social status. She also participates in Internal Saving and Lending and is a Joint Liability Lending phase 2, 2016 group member. Even though she has many duties, she has time to do other economic activities.

‘Through participating in Mandeya 2’s economic initiatives, we have managed to renovate our houses. Being a Village Health Worker, does not mean you have to neglect your own needs, as such these economic initiatives greatly assist me in meeting my families’ livelihood needs.’ Teclah added.

Teclah always had the desire to develop her family status by engaging in different activities. She is also into farming, buying and selling. Currently, she has ventured into poultry with other community members. Through savings from her business and with the help of her husband, they bought a Nissan truck, which has greatly improved their lives as well as income through hiring the truck to community members. She has become a role model to many women in Mandeya 2 community and is now impacting other people’s lives in the community.