Women Empowerment: Transforming Lives In Ha Matoli

By; Reentseng Phephetho, Communications and Digital Officer

For generations, women in Lesotho have faced societal norms that placed them in domestic roles, limiting their opportunities for economic independence. The expectation that men should be the sole providers has left many women without the skills and empowerment needed to sustain their families. In Ha Matoli, a village within the Pitseng Area Programme, this reality was deeply felt as families struggled to make ends meet, affecting the well-being and development of children.

“I was a young woman who lacked purpose. Waking up to doing nothing was my daily routine. I did not know where my children’s next meal would come from,” remarked ‘Maboitelo, a young mother from the Matoli Nutrition Club.

Due to a lack of skills and financial stability, many children in Ha Matoli were forced to drop out of school, as their parents could not afford school fees, uniforms, and other necessities. Some would attend school in improper clothing, and many went to class on an empty stomach. Although community members attempted to grow crops, their lack of agricultural knowledge meant repeated failure.

“We were trying to grow some crops, but unfortunately, without any skills, our crops would die. That was the only way we could feed and provide for our families,” continued ‘Maboitelo.

Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, World Vision, through its Livelihoods and Resilience Technical Programme, stepped in to uplift the most vulnerable families and empower them to break free from extreme poverty. The programme focuses on strengthening food production, increasing resilience, providing access to financial services, and creating sustainable employment opportunities. A special emphasis is placed on promoting women's economic empowerment to ensure that they have access to opportunities and resources, enabling them to make decisions in their households and economic activities.

‘Mamolise coming to inspect her crops under the shade net provided by World Vision

One of the key initiatives in Ha Matoli was the formation of the Matoli Nutrition Club, where women were empowered with essential farming skills. In addition to training, they received seeds and shade nets from World Vision to enhance their crop production.

“Poverty is the story of the past in this village. We now grow different vegetables like spinach, rape, beetroot, carrots, and tomatoes. We even preserve them to feed our families all year long. We are at the point where we also sell and make money,” shared ‘Mamolise, the chairperson of the Matoli Nutrition Club.

‘Maboitelo proudly displays their handmade wool creations alongside their food production efforts

To further strengthen their economic independence, these women were also introduced to sewing. Many of them eagerly embraced the opportunity to use their hands to create products that could be sold for income.

“Through this training, we are now skilled enough to make good use of wool to create decorative mats, earrings, baby socks, baby dresses, wool hats, and crop tops,” said ‘Maboitelo from Matoli Nutrition Club as she proudly showcased their handmade items.

‘Makoeneho proudly counting her earnings from the savings group

However, economic empowerment is not complete without financial literacy. To ensure long-term sustainability, the women received training on the Savings for Transformation (S4T) model. This model promotes small-scale savings and credit opportunities, helping community members plan for the future, cope with emergencies, and invest in their children’s education and well-being.

“We no longer have conflicts with our neighbours over borrowed money that we couldn’t return. Our savings group is very functional, and our lives have really changed. We feel empowered in all ways,” shared ‘Makoenehelo with pride.

Komiti Rabolinanye, the Livelihood and Resilience Technical Development Coordinator, emphasized the importance of empowering women as a foundation for sustainable development. “Empowered women empower communities. When women rise, the world rises with them,” he stated.

Matoli Nutrition Club members, Mamolise and Mathato, proudly carrying their crop harvest; spinach and beetroot

Looking towards the future, the women of Ha Matoli have big dreams. They are working towards recruiting youth into their Nutrition Club, hoping to inspire the next generation. Their goal is to secure a larger space to cultivate crops in bulk and supply markets beyond their village. They also aspire to acquire more sewing machines to increase production, allowing them to help the most vulnerable children in their community. Additionally, they aim to expand their monthly savings contributions to achieve greater financial independence.

With renewed purpose and economic stability, the women of Ha Matoli are proving that true empowerment leads to transformed lives. Their resilience and determination are creating lasting change, ensuring a brighter future for themselves, their children, and their entire community. Ha Matoli is never the same again.