Stories from Zimbabwe: Fyngai’s Story

My name is Fyngai, and I am married with three children.

I am a basket weaver, and I also sew and make my own clothes. During COVID, I sold masks in schools.

The money I can make from basket weaving and sewing helps me a lot. My children are still at school, and I have their fees to pay. My husband was also completing his education, and so I was able to pay for him to go to college.

When I was growing up, my mother taught me how to basket weave. By the time I got married, I was a champion at weaving and sewing. I could weave, I could sew – I was able to do things on my own.

Basket weaving has truly transformed my life. I still remember moments in the past when we didn’t have cash or anything.

Now, I can sell the things I make, and we can do more as a result. Because of the money I make from my basket weaving, I am able to buy small livestock: I have a goat, and I have chickens. I am also able to buy clothes for my family and, as I’ve mentioned, pay the school fees for my children.

To be able to do all of these things, it encourages me as a woman. It gives me strength, and I am able to not be dependent on my husband. As a woman, I think it’s important to be able to work on my own and to be able to support your family and be able to support your husband to support the family.

Most of the women in my group are following suit, as it’s not been easy in the past to support yourself and your family.

I am so happy because most of my wishes in life are being fulfilled through what I am able to achieve.

My encouragement to all women out there is to be effective. Let’s not sit on our hands. Let’s open businesses. Let’s not be dependent on our husbands or anyone. Let’s work with our own hands.

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