How Shenadi Abinasi Found Success Through the THRIVE Project
Shenadi Abinasi of Diwa Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mazengera in Lilongwe says his life is best described by Hosea 4:6—“my people perish for lack of knowledge.”
He claims that ignorance thwarted progress in all aspects of his four-member household.
“I was sliding deep into poverty because I was not doing things right due to lack of knowledge,” he says.
As the breadwinner, he struggled to get two meals a day and failed to educate and provide basic needs for his children.
He recalls: “Despite working extra hard, my income was so little and I also harvested low yields from my 12 crop fields. We wallowed in poverty and perennial hunger.”
In 2018, he got an enlightenment on how to flourish in all aspects of his family life during an Empowered World View Training under Transforming Household Resilience in Vulnerable Environment (THRIVE) Project implemented by World Vision Malawi in partnership with Farmers Concern International. The training changed his mindset and helped him to see the available resources in his life in a new way.
" I realised i have been dying of thirst while standing knee deep in water. I treasure the wisdom that empowered me to look at available resources squarely to thrive in life,” he says with a smile.
The Abinasis and others in the area were also introduced to climate-smart farming practices. These enable them to achieve food and nutrition security, and build their resilience to climatic shocks.
The father of two says his maize yield increased from two and half to 120 bags per year.
“I always have more than enough food. I also harvest more soya beans and irish potato and that means more income to meet my family’s basic needs,” he brags.
His wife, Nancy Chirombo, says the project brought immerse blessings to the family.
She says proceeds from farm produce have earned them more productive assets.
They now have a maize mill, grocery shop, video showroom, and bought a motorcycle (MWK600 000), solar power system (MWK700 000) and four plots of land (MWK 1 million).
They also get a monthly commission of MWK60 000 to MWK70 000 for being Airtel Money agent in the village.
Chirombo says their two daughters—Elise and Virginia—are living their best life.
“Life improved for the better. Elise (Standard Three) and Virginia (Standard Two) learn at Christian Private School where we pay K20 000 monthly fees for each. We have money, we can afford it,” she says while smiling and holding the daughters.