The road to my educational success has not been easy, and even today I face many challenges. But I still dream to acquire an education and change not only my path, but also that of my family and my community in Zimbabwe. My dream encourages me to take steps to reach my vision of success despite the obstacles I encounter.

1. Being a role model to my siblings. This has been the greatest challenge in my quest for an education. Being the first born in a family of five children, I have to set a precedent. I always try to motivate them despite the fact that I am also struggling to make ends meet.

2. Financial instability. Being a citizen of a country that does not offer free education and a child from a poverty-stricken home, it has been difficult for me. Applying for full scholarships is not an easy job but through God who continues to give me strength I am now getting my Masters degree for free.

3. Many commitments. Doing part-time jobs while getting an education and caring for my siblings is so challenging. I vividly recall taking up menial jobs at a very young age in my neighbourhood to supplement my basic needs and our household. My father’s risky job and meager salary from his driving career at a local university were not sufficient to meet our needs.

4. Finding balance. Academic life is a huge commitment that requires perseverance. But at the same time, social life cannot be neglected. It is very difficult for me to balance the two and in most cases my social life suffers.

5. Criticism from my community. Being a woman has been another drawback in my quest for an education. People always say, “Instead of getting married and starting a family you are busy trying to further your education, you will end up a nun.”

6. Lack of secure jobs. Due to the economic hardships our country is facing, it is difficult to get a secure job. This sometimes discourages me from furthering my education. Sometimes I feel like it’s not worth suffering sleepless nights studying hard and when I may not be able to secure a financially stable job anyway.

Blogger Precious Ngwayarudza grew up in Chipinge, Zimbabwe and studied Psychology at Africa University. In 2015 she conducted a qualitative research: An exploration of the circumstances that led to elderly destitution and institutionalization at Zororai Old Peoples’ Home. She is a humanitarian who has volunteered her services to various vulnerable groups. Since 2012, she is volunteering at Zororai Old Peoples’ home by offering emotional support to the destitute elderly who stay there. She also volunteered at Mutare Farm prison in 2013 where she was involved in the rehabilitation and reconciliation of the incarcerated. In addition, she undertook an internship at Simukai Child Protection Centre where she offered psychosocial support to street children.

SKIC’s Zimbabwe-based communications intern, Victoria, on what her role is like:

What is your role at SKImfi?

I am a communications/operations intern at SKImfi and I assist with keeping the records of the beneficiaries, ensuring that they comply with SKImfi rules and regulations, and compiling reports on the progress of their projects.

What does a day look like when you go out to meet with beneficiaries?

When we go out to meet with beneficiaries, the day is exciting. I like visiting women from different places. It gives me the opportunity to see life in a different way by spending time with new people in a new environment and hearing about their life stories and projects.  

I was quite impressed by one of the groups we visited in Mutare. They mainly focused on buying and selling bales of second hand clothes. When they first joined SKImfi, their projects did not go so well. They had bought a bale of blouses only to find out the blouses were off-season. We were approaching winter, so people were buying warm clothes. What I liked about these ladies is they did not sit on their project—they actually went to some of the rural areas in Mutare and they traded their blouses with mealies and nuts. The next time they went to Mozambique, they bought a bale of kids’ jerseys and they made a profit of 60%. I liked that these ladies are hard-working and open-minded.

How have you seen beneficiaries benefit and grow from SKImfi?

The loans that beneficiaries have received from SKImfi have helped them to start something. For example, those who rear chickens and sell them have made a lot of profit. They buy 25 chicks for $18 and rear them for 5 weeks. They then sell the chickens for $7 each. 

What do you find to be the most meaningful part of your job?

Visiting the beneficiaries to monitor their projects. It gives me a chance to understand some of their challenges and help them with ideas on how to approach their problems.

Why do you think it’s important to empower women and girls?

Women’s empowerment is important because it leads to development of society as well as the economy. It also reduces poverty: sometimes the money earned by the male member of the society is insufficient to meet the demands of the family, and the added earnings of the women helps the family come out of poverty.

Precious Ngwayarudza, a native of Zimbabwe, shares some of the comments she’s heard as single woman pursuing education—and her strategies for combatting casual sexism:

Why are you obtaining a Masters degree? Don’t you know that you will never secure a job in Zimbabwe?

Learning is my passion. As long as I have the funding to continue educating myself, nothing will stop me, and I’m confident that I will secure a job that is good for me.

If you continue learning, no man will be bold enough to marry you.

I don’t aspire to be married to a coward. I will marry a man who suits my educational status and demands.

Education is for men, not women. Do you think you’ll even use your education once you’re married?

I’m pursuing education so that I can have a better understanding of the world. Even if I choose not to have a career, my education will still serve me; the best thing about being educated is being able to view the world in a new way.

Why are you wasting your time and money on learning? When you marry, you’ll be taken care of by your husband and you will be confined to the kitchen.

I want to be my husband’s equal, not a burden and responsibility.

You aren’t going to have time to spend with your children, you’ll be too busy.

Necessity is the mother of invention. I will make time for both my career and family.

Haven’t you noticed that everyone your age is already married?

I’m too busy to be concerned about something like that.

Precious Ngwayarudza grew up in Chipinge, Zimbabwe and studied Psychology at Africa University. In 2015 she conducted a qualitative research: An exploration of the circumstances that led to elderly destitution and institutionalization at Zororai Old Peoples’ Home. She is a humanitarian who has volunteered her services to various vulnerable groups. Since 2012, she is volunteering at Zororai Old Peoples’ home by offering emotional support to the destitute elderly who stay there. She also volunteered at Mutare Farm prison in 2013 where she was involved in the rehabilitation and reconciliation of the incarcerated. In addition, she undertook an internship at Simukai Child Protection Centre where she offered psychosocial support to street children.

Growing up, I was the firstborn girl in a family of five children and a victim of a patriarchal society in Zimbabwe. But I had to set a precedent. I vividly recall taking up menial jobs in the neighborhood to supplement my school fees—my father’s risky job and meager salary were not sufficient for our needs. Even still, I dreamed to acquire an education.

To me, empowerment means the ability to make decisions and influence, to have a strong self-perception, to have personal freedom, to have access to and control over resources and support from social networks. I have discovered that one of the greatest challenges to achieving empowerment is that most people still live with the mentality that certain tasks are better handled by men. It is rare to come across a female electrician, mechanic, bus driver, politician or engineer in Zimbabwe. People often assume that women are generally incompetent in certain fields of life. For example, when I wanted to volunteer my services to the incarcerated in my community, it took me a long time to get permission to work at a local prison since the government believe that women are too weak to work with prison inmates.

The only solution to this challenge is to be resistant towards criticism. Women must stop seeing their gender as a weakness. They must see it as strength, and prove themselves by striving to outperform their male opponents. They must be prepared to break through limiting traditions, and stick to what they believe in.

The other challenge women in Zimbabwe face is that of balancing work and family. Women lay the building blocks on which the family foundation is built. So working women usually find themselves torn between commitment to the family and their work. The best way to overcome this barrier is time management and delegation.

Women have a willingness to listen, patience to understand, strength to support and heart to care even though they have limited access to achieve what they want. Women must always know that gender, age, race, religion or personal beliefs are not criteria for success. What is important is to have a good plan and be determined to succeed, even in the face of failure. Women can change the world. Whenever the going gets tough, they must always feel inspired by T.D Jakes quote, “If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion, for passion will lead you into your purpose.”

Blogger Precious Ngwayarudza grew up in Chipinge, Zimbabwe and studied Psychology at Africa University. In 2015 she conducted a qualitative research: An exploration of the circumstances that led to elderly destitution and institutionalization at Zororai Old Peoples’ Home. She is a humanitarian who has volunteered her services to various vulnerable groups. Since 2012, she is volunteering at Zororai Old Peoples’ home by offering emotional support to the destitute elderly who stay there. She also volunteered at Mutare Farm prison in 2013 where she was involved in the rehabilitation and reconciliation of the incarcerated. In addition, she undertook an internship at Simukai Child Protection Centre where she offered psychosocial support to the street children.

On the SKIC blog, we spend a lot of time talking about our new recruits—the women who have just decided to take on a SKIMFI microloan to transform their business, or maybe venture out to start a new business altogether. We’re always excited when new women join the program, but what about the women who used a microfinance loan to launch their career—and have since found the independence to move on from the program? We’ve got updates for you on five Chilean women who can now proudly call themselves SKIC veterans.

Valeria Caripan Cartes

Valeria expanded her clothing and pastry business to incorporate a wider variety of food items, and began generating more profit. She decided to continue growing alone, thanks to the knowledge and financial stability she gained through SKIC.

Bella Olave Barriga

Bella always showed a spirit of achievement and commitment to business, which allowed her to raise significant capital. With the help of SKIC loans, she was able to invest in freezers to keep her seafood products cold. As she transitions into independence, she’s made her deep gratitude for SKIC’s support clear.

Roxana Marihuen Pailalla

Roxana uses a traditional Mapuche loom to weave fabric. She’s gained enough customers to save the money to continue with her business and covering personal expenses independently.

Pamela López

Pamela now has a sufficient workshop space that allows her to run her clothing business—where she now has many customers and generous revenue.

Rosalía Rebolledo

Rosalía’s clothing business has earned her enough capital to continue on alone.

Our goal is to provide women with the resources they need to eventually thrive as independent entrepreneurs. Though it’s bittersweet to see women leave the SKImfi program, it’s our mission at work.