Takunda

For years, 35-year-old Tariro Tizai from Madhuviko village (Zaka Rural District) lived with her husband and two daughters in a single, old, thatched hut — a home that leaked when it rained. Every day was a reminder of how hard it is to raise a family without a safe place to call home.

But everything began to change in August 2024.

That is when Tariro joined the Kushinga Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) group, formed with support from the Takunda Project, a CARE Zimbabwe–led and United States Government–funded initiative. Through this community-driven group, members save together, access small loans, and build a safety net for emergencies.

Contributing just US$5 a month, Tariro took small, steady steps forward. She began a broiler poultry project — starting with 15 chickens, then growing to 25 per batch. With discipline, determination, and support from her VSLA share-out, she was able to buy cement and other materials to begin building something she had only dreamed of a modern, secure two-roomed house for her family.

“The money from our VSLA group changed my life,” she said.

Today, she has already contributed US$400 into construction, and her new home has reached the roofing stage. If all goes well, she hopes her family will move in by the end of 2025.

Tariro’s journey is a powerful reminder of what happens when women have access to savings, opportunity, and community support.