How Savings Transformed a Struggling Family's Life

Mateteu, a farmer in Monapo, Mozambique, smiles proudly in his field of maize and sesame

Monday, February 24, 2025

By António Massipa, Regional Communications and Advocacy Coordinator

Mateteu, a dedicated farmer in the Monapo district of northern Mozambique, once faced relentless challenges. His family barely had enough to eat. Farming a small plot of land with beans, maize, and cassava, they struggled to make ends meet. “I used to struggle to provide for my family,” Mateteu says. “We could barely make it from one harvest to the next,” he adds.

Everything changed for Mateteu in 2023 when he joined a savings group formed and trained by World Vision. There, he learned the essentials of saving money and managing finances. This knowledge was transformative. Before, all his earnings went to immediate needs, leaving nothing for the future.

Mateteu works the lad. His determination and financial skills have transformed his life and his family's future.

Equipped with new financial insights, Mateteu began to save and even took out a small loan. Instead of simply trying to grow more of the same crops, he invested wisely in his farm. He expanded his small plot to a full hectare and began cultivating sesame, a cash crop.

The results were astounding. Mateteu's farm now produces an abundance of food. “Now I have enough food for my family,” he says, beaming with pride. He no longer worries about their next meal.

Thanks to his increased earnings, he can now provide ample food for his family and afford necessities like school supplies for his children.

The additional income from sesame has been a game-changer. Mateteu can now afford things that were once out of reach. “It’s no longer tough to buy school materials for my children,” he explains. His children can attend school without concerns about pencils, notebooks, and uniforms.

Mateteu’s sense of accomplishment is palpable. He is no longer merely surviving. He is building a brighter future for his family. “I am so motivated,” he says. “Now my challenge is expanding our land,” he adds. With plans to grow even more crops and further expand his farm, Mateteu’s success story is a testament to the power of saving, hard work, and a little help.