At the age of 49, Zambian Anita Sitatanga is enjoying a newfound independence.<\/p>\n
A farmer and fruit seller, for much of her adult life, she has struggled to make a profit from her work. \u201cI relied almost entirely on my husband for money. He decided how we would spend our income.\u201d<\/p>\n
Things changed for Anita when she joined other women from Namuswa village on a Self Help Africa project training them in drying and packaging fresh fruit.<\/p>\n
Previously, Anita would make a bus journey each week to the market, carrying heavy suitcases laden with fresh fruit.<\/p>\n
By drying and packaging her fruit she is able to carry the produce easily, and importantly, more cheaply.<\/p>\n
Not only that, she is now selling her dried and packaged produce for a higher price, and because it has a longer shelf-life sees less of it going to waste.<\/p>\n
\u201cI make my own money now. I love not being dependent on my husband. It has changed my life,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n
Her income is having an impact on her entire family\u2019s quality of life and an empowering effect on her own self-confidence.<\/p>\n
Evidence shows that in rural Africa, women who have greater control over household finance are most likely to invest their income in their family and children.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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