{"id":16240,"date":"2023-07-18T14:16:41","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T13:16:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhelpafrica.org\/uk\/?p=16240"},"modified":"2023-07-18T14:20:37","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T13:20:37","slug":"aspiring-to-a-better-life-manesis-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhelpafrica.org\/uk\/aspiring-to-a-better-life-manesis-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Aspiring to a Better Life \u2013 Manesi\u2019s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Manesi Samalani from Malawi, pictured.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The clue is in the name\u2026 as Malawi’s ASPIRE (Achieving Sustainable Poverty Reduction through Increased Inclusive Resilience and Empowerment) project has enabled hundreds of women in Malawi to make their small business aspirations come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women like Manesi Samalani, who always wanted to put her handcraft skills to good use and produce clothing and footwear that might provide her with the foundations of a small business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trained and supported by ASPIRE – backed by Irish Aid – Manesi invested in the necessary equipment and materials, and started to manufacture shoes and clothing that she would sell to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the past we didn\u2019t have a proper house where the family could sleep, and I often had to do manual work to generate an income and put food on the table,\u201d she recalls. \u201cToday, we are eating better. I now have seven goats, and I\u2019m able to afford the school fees for my children.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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