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34-year-old Fezile Hlophe is chasing her dream of owning one of the largest avocado farms in Eswatini. Nonduduzo Kunene, bird story agency When Fezile Hlophe fell pregnant and dropped out of school, her immediate plans had to be put on hold - but her dream of being a successful businesswoman was not. At only 17 years old, Hlophe had to find a way to provide for her child as a single parent, so she started braiding people’s hair in her neighbourhood. “I didn’t earn much but I had aspirations of being a better person one day,” she said. Several years later, when Hlophe went to braid the hair of a new customer located around 20 kilometres from where the young woman lived, she was struck by a revelation. “When I entered the homestead of the new customer I walked into 10 avocado trees that had avocados growing on them,” Hlophe shared. “As I was braiding the new customer, we ended up talking about growing fruit trees and how avocados had a market,” she added. Mesmerised by the avocado trees she saw at her customer’s house and the conversation they had shared, Hlophe started to take steps to learn more about avocado farming. “I took the money I was paid by my customers and bought avocado seedlings which I grew in my yard,” she said. Much to her shock – as she had not anticipated that they would grow healthily and produce a good yield - the trees soon started producing fruit. Before her life-changing conversation, Hlophe had met and married a qualified teacher and through their marriage, she became a landowner. “After getting married, my mother-in-law called me and my husband and showed us these four hectares of land. At the time she showed us the land, it was just a forest between mountains,” she said. At first, Hlophe found it unbelievable that her mother-in-law had decided to give her land. Knowing the challenges faced by women when it came to ownership of land in Eswatini, Hlophe made sure that no one would fight her in the future about her ownership. She acquired written agreements to ensure that the land would remain hers and that no-one had a problem - including the traditional authorities. “I remember my husband laughing and asking me what I was thinking of the land that his mother allocated to us. At the time I was as clueless as him but I told him that maybe we will use it for farming over the years. We slowly cleared it and started farming maize for our own consumption,” she said. Hlophe took money she earned from selling the maize and bought around 70 avocados trees, planting them on either side of the land. They, too, grew and produced a good yield. Soon after, the radio brought some good news to the budding farmer. The news came in the form of an announcement through national radio about Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund loans, a government initiative providing seed capital to young people who want to start businesses. “I was keen on the announcement and did my research, which resulted in me applying for the loan. I did not qualify for the loan at first but I did not lose focus. Instead, I asked why. I was told that I didn’t qualify because the money I had requested was beyond the stipulated amount,” she revealed. The fund offers loans up to 100,000 emalangeni (about US$5,900) depending on the nature of the business. Hlophe successfully negotiated to reduce the loan application. The loan was approved for US$2,941. She used the loan to buy 350 trees and planted them in 2022. These trees have since started growing avocados as well. In total, Hlophe now has over 420 avocado trees, with 70 of those being harvested. Showcasing her produce at the Eswatini International Trade Fair, she earned regional and continental recognition. Hlophe also has over 1,000 banana trees and is even being popularly touted as a 'self-made fruit farmer'. She is now looking to diversify her potential market to include exports (she has the choice of exporting individually or through the country's National Agricultural Marketing Board) and has started looking for more land. “Through the continental channels I have unlocked, I am looking forward to exporting the avocados and other fruits I want to grow,” she disclosed. Neighbouring South Africa is already the continent's third-largest avocado exporter, after Kenya and Ethiopia, with South Africa's various fruit exports worth over US$3 billion per annum. But Hlophe's is already looking further ahead. “My journey does not end with selling fruits but I am also looking into processing. During the summer we experience a lot of rains that make the area inaccessible. Imagine being stuck with ripe fruits during the harvesting season due to slippery gravel roads. It is for that reason I am looking into processing after I have built a packhouse,” she said. Through her business, she can repay her monthly instalment of 1,600 lilangeni (US$88) towards the Youth Fund loan and sustain her basic needs. She expects to repay the loan in full within three years. Director of Agricultural and Extension Services in the Ministry of Agriculture Nelson Mavuso said Hlophe was an example of entrepreneurial potential in the country's agrifoods sector. “Most of emaSwati are slowly discovering commercial farming and most of them are in vegetable and animal farming. Commercial fruit farming is mostly practised by companies. It is impressive to see a young person having such passion,” he added. The director noted that he had engaged with Hlophe and he was impressed by her vision. In October 2023, Hlope won the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Rural Innovator competition at the SADC Rural Farmers Women Expo, held in Kinshasa. “I am grateful for this award and attribute my success to God, my loving husband, family and the Youth Fund for all the support they have given me,” she said. Hlophe's fruit farm is now registered under the company name "Life is Green Production". bird story agency

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala retains the position of Africa’s most powerful woman, while new entrant Mpumi Madisa takes second place as African women solidify their place among Forbes' ‘World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’ rankings, boosting their influence on global leadership, politics and business. Conrad Onyango, bird story agency More African women are joining and rising up the ranks of the world’s 100 most powerful women, according to Forbes, as they grow their influence in shaping the policies, products and political fights defining the globe. Nigeria’s former minister of finance, currently World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has moved the highest on the continent by four places from position 91 in 2022 to 87 in this year’s Forbes "World's 100 Most Powerful Women" rankings. Okonjo-Iweala, the first African woman to lead the WTO, made it to the list for the seventh time in 2023 since her debut in 2011. The 69-year-old has also hinted at a growing number of African women who may not be in the world’s 100 most powerful but whose global influence is on the rise. “Congratulations to all the women on this list working hard to make a difference and to others working hard to change the world even if they are not on the list. Special congratulations to my younger sister @MoAbudu, great to have two Nigerian women on this list,” Okonjo-Iweala said on X. New entrant Mpumi Madisa, Chief Executive Officer of Bidvest Group, a South African services and distribution company with nearly 130,000 employees and a US$4.7 billion market cap, is now the second most powerful woman in Africa, according to the publisher. Over the last three years, Bidvest has delivered annual growth in headline earnings per share in excess of 20% and created over 6,000 jobs in 2023, according to the group’s 2023 annual report, published in October. Bidvest has built up a US$1.49 billion (R28 billion) war chest as it looks for growth opportunities in South Africa and other markets where the company operates. Madisa, ranked 88th in the global Forbes 2023 list, became the only black female Chief Executive of a top-40 company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange when she took the helm of the listed company in 2020. In November 2023, she was named the 2023 Sunday Times Business Leader of the Year. Madisa raced ahead of Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Nigerian Media mogul, Mo Abudu, whose rankings have also improved, signifying a spirited growth in influence amongst both political and business leaders on the continent. At 44 years, is the youngest African Woman on the Forbes list. Tanzania’s President, Samia Hassan who is marking her third consecutive appearance on the Forbes rankings, saw her star rise slightly, coming in at number 93, from 95. Hassan is the first female president of Tanzania. She took over in March 2021 following the death of President John Pombe Magufuli. The former Vice President began her political career in 2000. Hassan’s achievements include a strategic focus on infrastructure development, building regional ties and contributions to a range of global discourses, after moving the country away from her predecessor's increasingly isolationist policies. The country recently received global recognition in key sectors such as tourism and logistics, which are contributing to the growth of its economy. Thanks to recent growth, the country is on course to surpass Kenya as East Africa's largest economy. In October, Tanzania's tourism sector was ranked growing the second-fastest in Africa and among the top 15 in the world by the UNWTO. During the same month, Tanzania became a member of the council responsible for developing global tourism strategies and plans, as well as the UNWTO's vice-chair. In May, Tanzania's port of Dar es Salaam surpassed Kenya's Mombasa port in the World Bank rankings. According to the latest ports ranking commissioned by the World Bank, Dar es Salaam port ranked 312th in the world, ahead of Mombasa, at 326th. In early 2023, the IMF predicted that Tanzania would become the largest economy in East Africa, surpassing that of Kenya. Tanzania's economy, the fund said, would grow to US$136 billion by 2028, while Kenya's is forecast to reach US$151 billion in the same period. Moreover, Tanzania may surpass Kenya's growth rate for the next decade. As one of the most powerful women in global media, Nigerian Mo Abudu also made the list for the third time and moved a rank higher from position 99 to position 98. The owner of the Ebony Media, whose content airs in more than 49 African countries, hailed fellow African women on the list. “As the only two Nigerians and among only three African women on this esteemed list, alongside other extraordinary women, we continue to pave the way. I'm proud to see Mpumi Madisa, CEO of Bidvest, representing South African excellence on this global platform,” Abudu posted on Instagram. She added, “There's an abundance of remarkable African Women making waves. Here's to more inspiring women joining the ranks of Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women in the future.” In early November, the Nigerian media mogul announced the start of production of her latest collaborative Netflix venture, “Black, Brilliant, and Bold” which celebrates the incredible achievements of Black women, sharing behind-the-scenes footage of an interview with Okonjo-Iweala. “In various fields, from science and technology to arts and activism, politics, and beyond, black women have made significant contributions that often go unnoticed. It’s high time we changed that narrative,” she posted on her Instagram page. In October, Abudu was listed as one of the 20 most powerful women in global entertainment in a report by The Hollywood Reporter. bird story agency

Ama Serwaa Ennin was looking forward to a nursing career at the end of her university training. Things didn't turn out the way she imagined. Today, she looks after some slow-moving individuals. But they're not people. Sefakor Fekpe, bird story agency Ama Serwaa Ennin squats in a greenhouse, proudly showing off her farm produce. What she's holding is a source of pride - and her future income. What she holds in her hands isn't the grain or legumes or even beans of the sort usually proffered up in tales of African farming success, however. Instead, she holds two snails - giant African snails, to be exact. "One commentator asked me why I do this when my peers are leaving for Canada to practice nursing," the young farmer, who has documented her journey on social media, said. The answer to the commentator is simple. “They are the most profitable animals per square meter," explained Felix Appiah Nyarko, co-founder of Trisolace, an enterprise that helps smallholder farmers like Ennin grow snails organically in urban and rural areas. Snails are a delicacy and source of protein for Ghanaians. Popular Ghanaian dishes like jollof rice with snails, banku with snail stew, yam chips with peppered snails, snail meat pies, and snail meat kebab can be found in eateries in most urban areas in the country. They've become a huge opportunity for farmers. Over the last eight years, Nyarko has helped Trisolace establish more than 200 large greenhouses dedicated to growing snails across the country. “The greenhouse package costs between 36,000 cedis (about US$3,000) to 200,000 cedis (about US$17,000) and the small boxes start from 700 cedis (about US$58) whereas a pack of snails is 150 cedis (about US$12.5),” Nyarko explained of the business. Snail farming was about as far from Ennin's initial plans for a career as one could get. However, after qualifying for her dream job in nursing, she waited in vain to be placed in one of the country's medical centres. “I realised that I wouldn’t be posted anytime soon after national service because our predecessors (were) still at home and I decided to do something and the opportunity I had here was land, so I started farming,” she said. In 2022, Ennin's father told her about snail farming. Soon after, she travelled for training at the Trisolace Snail Farm in Accra, then started her project on her parents' land in Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti region. “I market the snails online and buy from local pickers and sell to the open market while waiting for those in the greenhouse to fully mature,” she explained. Ennin's parents helped her with the purchase of her first greenhouse, which cost her some GHC24,000 (US$2000). There, she grows vegetables like carrots, cabbage, lettuce, and cucumber. While she sells some of her harvest, most is used to feed around 1,700 edible giant African snails, or Lissachatina fulica. “You need to have patience because it’s a long-term investment... Snail farming does not need much space. You can go through the training and start small, not necessarily the greenhouse method,” Ennin explained. The idea of commercialized snail farming came to Trisolace's Nyarko during his job hunt when he met other friends and civil engineering colleagues who were also looking for jobs but were unsuccessful. Nyarko participated in different start-ups and entrepreneurship programmes and saw the huge potential the snail industry presents in terms of job creation. "We started with small boxes filled with snails and gave them out to friends and colleagues where they reported on what they like and don’t like, as well as the mortality rates, so that was how we got our research,” Nyarko explained. With savings from his national service allowance and support from his co-founder, they raised GHC5,000 to start rearing the snails on a commercial scale, using boxes. “In 2018, we started on a larger scale doing the greenhouses. This was after I completed intensive training at a state-owned institution, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Forest Research Institute of Ghana (CSIR-FORIG) on snail farming technology.” Their snail rearing was catching on and in 2019, Nyarko was awarded a US$5,000 grant by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Youth Authority (NYA) under Ghana’s Youth Connekt Platform. Trisolace has grown over the past seven years to now have 22 full-time staff, thanks in part to the application of different innovative methods, like using greenhouses and sprinklers. “We saw that there were a lot of prospects in agriculture. But we didn’t have a place of our own. I was still with my parents so you couldn’t do anything like poultry or anything that smelled or made noise. That is when we started to research snails,” Nyarko explained. Snail farming still has its challenges and risks, including a relatively high mortality rate during hatching if conditions are not closely monitored. However, retired Ghanaian technician Elvis E. Nkrumah, who previously specialised in snail farming technology, advises young people to have patience and ensure best practices to become profitable over time. “We advise that you don't sell your first-generation but the second-generation so that you have a sequence of ranges where you can sell the subsequent years and that will make them big enough to earn you higher prices so that you get a lot of profit. Your first generation will get you a lot of snail population. They lay a lot - on average, 400-500 eggs annually - and hatchability is between 95 to 100 per cent,” Nkrumah explained. Another under-explored area in the value chain is the rising demand for snail slime by the cosmetic industry globally. “A lot of people are developing interest in the sector not because of the flesh but because of the cosmetic industry. Few people in Ghana extract snail slime and export but a lot of them sell fresh meat. The Profitability is quite high, especially in the dry season when they're scarce," Nkrumah added. "We can meet only 18 per cent of the total market demand, hence the reason we’re offering free training in order to get more people to invest in the sector," said Nyarko. Ennin hopes to start selling off her snails in 2025. bird story agency

They may be small in stature but they're gigantic in performance and spirit and they’re having a massive impact, both worldwide and in Africa, where they are changing the lives of young women. Four former female running greats from Africa are ploughing back what they gained from the sport and investing in the future of African distance running. Stephen Granger, SPNA Derartu Tulu, the first African athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in female competition and now president of Ethiopia’s Athletics Federation; Kenyan marathon super-stars and former world record holders, Tegla Leroupe and Mary Keitany; and former half marathon record-holder and gold medalist, South Africa’s Elana (Meyer) van Zyl, are all deeply committed to empowerment programmes for female athletes in their home countries. Two of this extraordinary quartet, Keitany and Van Zyl, recently met in Stellenbosch and Cape Town in South Africa to inspire young women and share ideas and strategies to empower young women as athletes and in all areas of life. Keitany travelled from her home in the well-known distance running mecca, Iten, in Kenya to join Elana van Zyl’s Endurocad’s team during the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s festival of running and shared the story of her own life with eager young learners from Makupula High School in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch. The session also included girls from twelve other schools on the ACHIEVE programme at a workshop at the Cape Town Stadium. And with American technology super-executive and iron-man athlete Rhonda Vetere sharing the platform and adding inspirational words, the Kayamandi learners were soon redefining their life goals. “A doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, and a social worker” were some of their responses when asked what they wanted to do with their lives. “All of you have dreams and don’t let anyone stop you from dreaming; you have to follow your passion,” said Vetere. “And whatever you do, make it intentional and purposeful. But it won’t come easily. When I was your age, everyone told me I’d never make it if I studied math, physics and technology. But sport helped me achieve my goals.” Four wins at the New York City Marathon, three in the London Marathon (including a women’s only world record), a gold and silver medal at the world half marathon championships (the title came in 2009, just 11 months after the birth of her son) and a half marathon world record at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in the UAE were just some of Keitany’s achievements. “When I was in primary school, there was no transport to help me, so I ran 10km to school with no shoes and ran back in the evening,” Keitany told the girls. “But that made me into an athlete! My teacher recognised my talent and said, ‘Mary, if you run, you can be a good athlete’. “My father was a good runner and I wanted to run like him. But there was little support for me and it was always a struggle. Often, I went to school on an empty stomach, but that only made me more determined to succeed. After primary school, I worked as a domestic for two years, as there was no money for me to attend high school before I had a chance to go to high school. “During high school, there were some opportunities to compete abroad but I did not have the necessary documents. I would win the races, but I could not go anywhere. But I told myself, ‘my time is not yet’ and I knew my time would come. “I was determined to nurture my talent,” Keitany told the girls, “because it was in my dreams to be an international athlete. And it is important for you to know that nothing is impossible if you believe in it.” Keitany is a role model for aspiring young athletes in Kenya, where she is involved in mentorship and support programmes. “My hope for them is to be the women they are made to be. They can do anything that men can do; they just have to believe in themselves and do things in the right way. “Nothing is impossible. Be sure that you will make it. And know that what you are doing now in preparation will stand you in good stead for tomorrow. What you are doing will help you and your wider community.” Meanwhile, Van Zyl plans to reconnect with Tulu later this month following their emotional reunion at the Olympic stadium in Barcelona last year, the scene of their memorable 10,000-meter race at the 1992 Olympics, where Van Zyl took the silver medal behind Tulu. At that time, the two agreed to support each other in their work and Van Zyl will be flying to Ethiopia to follow up on that commitment. SPNA

A pastoralist’s daughter pioneers a climate-resilient village to combat gender-based violence Kate Okorie, bird story agency Growing up in the wilds of Kajiado County of Kenya, Mana Omar knows first-hand the struggles women face in search of water during the arid months - a search that has grown harder and harder as rains become less and less dependable. The walk to the river is dangerous. Predators have mastered the routes these women take. The women's vulnerability is intensified at night when, without a source of electricity, they must trudge through the darkness. The predators, however, are human. Often disguising themselves as fishermen, the sexual predators prey on women walking alone, The threat they represent is not only a constant source of anxiety for women in these communities but also a cause of further abuse when women return home late because they were afraid to walk alone. “We are also talking about women coming home after facing these problems, only to encounter an angry husband because they returned late from the river. So, there's physical and emotional abuse,” said Omar. Earlier this year, Omar and her team at Spring of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SASAL) uncovered some of the underlying causes of gender-based violence in her community, through research. “From our research, we identified several causes, and one of them was vulnerability to climate change,” she said. In response, Omar, a Maasai pastoralist's daughter, pioneered a village designed to be both a climate-resilient village and to prevent opportunities for gender-based violence. The model village is named Enkang. "Enkang is a Maasai word, meaning home,” Omar explained. “We're trying to create a village where women will feel safe,” she said. The model village, while promoting collaboration among genders, incorporates climate resilience at its core to tackle the issue of gender-based violence. Since its founding in September, Omar’s village has grown to 63 households with 357 beneficiaries. “We have programmes around water, clean energy, and sanitation, which is another driver of gender-based violence." Situated close to the river, the village saves women from the long, dangerous walk to access water. However, the model village is far from complete. Omar plans to set up a reliable solar energy system to harness the community’s abundant sunlight. She is also considering improving the building’s architecture. “We want to improve the houses, keeping it in a traditional way but with improved materials, so it’s not a burden to women during the heavy rains accompanying El Nino.” However, Omar’s progress with the village has not been without challenges. “It's really hard to engage with communities. We've had fights and have been chased away; we've had launches interrupted by community members because they thought we were bringing something negative. These are experiences people don't talk about,” Omar shared. She noted that the attitude of the community members has discouraged NGOs in the past, leading some to leave in frustration. “A common trait among pastoralist communities is their perception. It's really hard to convince them to move from patriarchal structures. Even when a woman is raped and tries to report the case, they're told it's normal. Just keep quiet,” she said. Amid ingrained cultural beliefs, Omar’s journey gives her hope that her community members will come around too. "You see, I'm from (the) society, and I've embraced change." "Our aim is that, by the end of maybe three years, we can replicate the model village throughout the entire community,” she said. bird story agency

With the world pivoting to embrace "green minerals" found in large quantities under the ground in Africa, Mary Otieno and her team at Wemo are determined to ensure that the continent does not repeat the mistakes of the past. Seth Onyango, bird story agency Mary Otieno is expecting a gentle evening draft to bring some relief from the heat that lingers in the air as dusk settles over the sprawling city of Dubai. The chairperson of Women in Mining Operations (Wemo) may live in Africa but contrary to many people's expectations, that does nothing to prepare one for the heat of the Middle East. Otieno has come to Dubai to ensure that her organisation can influence the role of women, and mining, in what she hopes will be a greener, more equitable future for Africa. “Our journey began with the recognition that women’s roles in mining were undervalued. Mining is also often seen as destructive, but we want to show that it can be done differently,” Otieno explained, as the day's activities at COP28 wound down. Adorned in a Maasai-inspired outfit and well-known in her native land, Otieno is more than just a figure of national pride. Since becoming involved in activism over a decade ago she is today in the vanguard of a movement that seeks to influence gender, environment, and the burgeoning green economy both in Tanzania and across the continent. The sector that offers huge transformational capacity is mining. “It’s not just about extracting minerals, it's about preserving the land for future generations,” she explained. Her group advocates for environmentally friendly mining techniques and stringent rehabilitation of mining sites. As global industries pivot towards green technologies, the demand for minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements, abundant in Africa, has surged. This rush, however, raises concerns about the environmental and social impacts of mining. Otieno and her team are keen to ensure that this new wave of interest in African minerals does not repeat the mistakes of the past. One of Wemo's key initiatives is to lobby for local green industries to process minerals at home, asserting that is where real value lies. “We have the resources here in Africa to not only extract but also process these minerals. By building green industries locally, we create jobs and keep the value within our communities,” she explained. Tanzania's first female miner Pili Hussein famously said in a 2017 UN report, “I became a man, just to access the mines.” While a lot has changed when it comes to gender inclusion and representation, Wemo is working to ensure that women benefit more widely from mining activities. In Tanzania, Wemo has been instrumental in initiating community-based projects that empower women economically along the precious minerals value chain. By getting training providers to focus on gender diversity, for example, Wemo hopes the mining industry can build a workforce that's more inclusive and varied. These projects are not just transforming the mining sector, they’re reshaping communities and fostering a new generation of environmentally-conscious miners, many of whom Otieno hopes will be women. A mix of different viewpoints, experiences, and skills also help organisations to come up with new ideas and solve problems, which is good for the industry's growth. Otieno explained that her commitment to sustainable practices is deeply personal. Having witnessed the degradation of landscapes due to irresponsible mining, she is now adamant about the need for rehabilitation of mining sites. “After the minerals are extracted, we cannot leave the land barren. We must restore it, plant trees, and make it fertile again,” she stated passionately. The efforts have not gone unnoticed. Wemo’s work is gaining traction both locally and internationally, drawing attention to the importance of the role of women in the green economy. Otieno’s team, primarily composed of women, is not just challenging gender norms but also proving that environmentally responsible mining is feasible and profitable. At COP28, Wemo’s agenda is, if possible, even more ambitious - to position sustainable, gender-inclusive mining, beneficiation and environmental rehabilitation in Africa at the forefront of global climate action. Their advocacy is seen as especially critical for African nations facing the dual challenge of economic development and environmental conservation. “We want to show the world that it’s possible to mine sustainably,” asserted Teddy Goliama, a Gemmologist and Diamond Valuer at Wemo. As large-scale mining becomes more digitised and gears up to boost the production of copper, lithium, and the other essential minerals needed for low-carbon energy transitions, there is a huge opportunity for the inclusion of women, Goliama noted. “Our focus is on training women in sustainable mining techniques, advocating for better policies, and promoting the use of technology that minimizes environmental impact.” Wemo hopes their model can be replicated across Africa because all hands must be on the deck for lasting reforms in the continent's mining sector. As the conversation shifts to the future, Otieno becomes increasingly optimistic. “We are seeing more women take on leadership roles in mining. They are becoming drivers of change, ensuring that the sector contributes positively to both our economy and our environment.” bird story agency

A tech hub for young women in Mombasa offers entry into the world of IT to girls and young women from all walks of life, whatever their background. Velma Pamela and Irene Mumbi, bird story agency It's quiet at Pwani Teknowgalz. Really quiet. You'd almost think no one was home. Across from the reception counter, a handful of young women are engrossed in activities on their laptops. Many are wearing coloured hijabs; brown and black are the predominant colours, initially making it difficult to identify Latifah Noor. It turns out that the 25-year-old is seated right at the front of the group, explaining a newly developed application to the woman seated next to her. By rights, Noor should not be here. Her journey to a role at Pwani Teknowgalz, a community-based organisation in Mombasa, had its beginnings at high school when, after a visit by a group of women promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs, she discovered a passion for technology. The women offered practical computer and IT lessons and Noor grasped the opportunity with both hands. “I got the opportunity to create my first application, which was a prototype. We went for competitions and we became the third team,” she said. Being brought up by a single mother, university was a challenge. After high school, she had to find work as a sales assistant. But her interests were always focused elsewhere. "I came across the Pwani Teknowgalz page one day while browsing the internet. I recognized them from the pictures as the same group that came to visit us in high school. With my passion at heart, I decided to make the call." Pwani Teknowgalz, run by founder and Executive Director Ruth Kaveke, is located in the heart of Mombasa County. The non-profit works to empower girls and young women in marginalized communities in Kenya by providing them with employable practical STEM skills. The ultimate goal is to enable them to be self-sufficient and make a positive impact on the digital economy. "I used to go there while the other girls were taking website development and Python classes. I would sit at the window and listen in on what they were learning. One day, as Ruth was finishing one of her classes, I decided to approach her with a question in relation to what she taught. She was taken aback because she hadn't seen me in any of the classes,” Noor explained. Kaveke was greatly inspired by Noor’s determination and persistence and decided to sponsor her. The young student became the first Pwani Teknowgalz beneficiary and was given the opportunity to participate in the program. Kaveke's own motivational story can be traced back to her shock at the low number of women IT students in her class at university. "I attended the Technical University of Mombasa... Only 14 of 60 students in my computer science class were female. With that in mind, and after a harrowing experience as an IT intern in a male-dominated office, two of my friends and I decided to launch Pwani Teknowgalz,” Kaveke shared. Kaveke wanted to create an environment where women like Noor could grow and be given opportunities in the field of technology. Initially, participants in the program were to pay 10,000 shillings (about US$65) per month for the training. Thanks to support from Kenyan corporates and other sponsors, Teknowgalz has been able to take on more non-paying participants. “Thanks to funding from organizations like Safaricom and Close the Gap, we were able to enrol more ladies in the training program,” Kaveke explained. The first physical location of the training centre was in Swahili Port, which was offered as a safe space with a community of techies and artists. The organisation has since moved to a new space but despite receiving thousands of applications, it is only able to train 12 to 18 girls at a time, due of capacity constraints. Participants are trained in all aspects of computer technology, including website development. "The Code Hack Program is one of the initiatives I am most passionate about. After high school, some of the girls don't have enough money to attend college. They observe their pals sharing updates about their IT endeavours in university. What caught me off guard was the fact that the university students would still come to Pwani Teknowgalz for more training,” Kaveke said. 21-year-old, Rachael Oluoch, attending from far-off Siaya in Kisumu in the Lake Victoria region, is an example of the attendees who get an opportunity to advance their IT skills through Teknowgalz. "I am an IT major in my second year at Technical University of Mombasa. We got our extended break early this year, and I wasn't sure what to do with my time instead of going home. It was then that I encountered Teknowgalz online,” Oluoch said. Oluoch was able to join the CODE HACK program and completed her training in the first week of December 2023. “As I return to school, I feel like I have a wealth of knowledge. I have been able to learn a great deal from the curriculum that I was unable to learn in the university. Through the training, I was also able to acquire an internship, which has been my greatest blessing,” she shared. Sharon Atieno, a Kenyan junior data scientist, who previously attended Teknowgalz, believes there is plenty of space for women in tech - if they can get the required training. "To succeed in the tech business, you have to put in a lot of dedication. Lack of knowledge is the reason why many women are not pursuing it. I think there will be a significant increase in the number of women thanks to institutions that provide spaces for such opportunities,” Atieno said. “It’s not easy; I wouldn't say that it is," she shared. Noor has since returned to the program in the role of mentor, enabling her to instruct attendees in 3D printing, website construction, and digital marketing. PSYCp, her mental health application that supports people with mental health challenges by using pure technology, is still under development - and perhaps best represents her determination. “It was in my vulnerable moments that I found strength. I reminded myself of the countless hours I had put into my career, the sleepless nights I had spent debugging code and my genuine interest and passion for web development. My competence and dedication served as my armour against the scepticism in the room,” she concluded. bird story agency

When Monica Marura relocated to an island she had never heard of, she thought she was supporting her husband's career move. A few weeks in, however, her own career took off. Now fully integrated into the gig economy, Marura has become a recognisable figure on the island - and an entrepreneur in her own right. Velma Pamela and Irene Mumbi, bird story agency Monica Marura looks at her watch and realises she only has an hour before her next gig. She is due to film a Muslim bridal celebration and as per many traditional Islamic weddings, no men are permitted to attend this particular celebration. As the only woman professional videographer and photographer on the island, she can't be late. When Marura has an urgent obligation like this one that prevents her from returning home, she heads to her studio - where she keeps some of her work clothes. The studio is located in the centre of Lamu Town, a Swahili trading town that dates back to at least the 14th Century. It is one of Africa's oldest and finest preserved Swahili towns, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It offers a stunning 12km stretch of unspoiled coastline and a laid-back atmosphere. "There are basically no cars and you have to use a donkey, or walk," Marura said, explaining that arriving on Lamu seemed to her like stepping back in time. Donkeys (which are plentiful), boats, and motorbikes serve as the primary modes of transportation. The island "features golden sunsets, palm-fringed beaches, calls to prayer, white-painted Swahili houses (multi-story Arabic-style houses with flat roofs and walled courtyards at the centre), and bougainvillaea-covered terraces" according to (accurate, according to the writer) tourist brochures. Marura chooses a long black piece of cloth known as a buibui to put over her ordinary clothing. She then wears a hijab and a niqab, traditional garments which cover everything but her hands and eyes. Marura equips herself with the latest camera from a stash of photographic gear displayed against the shiny pink wall. Her photographic journey, from her oldest to her most recent camera, is all there. She is finally ready to go. When she arrives at the location, it is difficult to tell everyone apart. Everyone is dressed in bright colour, but one thing they all have in common is that they are all covered up. All you can see are their eyes. As Marura walks in, she is greeted casually by women who are familiar with her and her profession. She gets right to work after the formalities are over. She carefully removes her camera and sets it up for action. However, her journey did not begin around her current community. Marura spent the majority of her twenties managing her family’s cyber café in Mombasa, along the coast of Kenya. All this while she knew she wanted more out of life. “I was born in a family that loved to venture into business. My siblings and I started working at a very young age when my father opened a cyber. Since the cyber was our primary source of revenue, we as the kids were put to oversee it,” Marura said. In 2020, Marura met her husband, Robert Mwangi, a professional photographer. This meeting helped Marura discover a talent and passion for telling stories through the camera - she admired how her partner would often spend extended periods getting to know his subjects and attempting to understand them, through pictures. “I had no background in photography. I just had a passion for it. I would accompany my husband to various shoots and slowly but surely, I picked up a lot,” Marura shared. Her life changed when the couple was given the chance to move to Lamu Island. Altrough her first thought was, “wait, what part of Kenya is Lamu?” the move held potential, she said. “We saw a chance to fill a void. My husband had to go first to see how it looked because we had no idea such a place existed. All we needed was a little push. As soon as my partner gave me an okay, I packed my belongings and relocated to Lamu Island..” Not long after arriving, the opportunity became a reality for Marura. “My partner was informed about a wedding that was seeking a female photographer to capture the all-female ceremony. I got the job because there aren't many women photographers in Lamu,” she shared. Following that first job, the community on Lamu Island began to take notice of her work. She began to get recommendations from everywhere. She founded a separate business from her husband, Infernal Photography. The county quickly extended an offer to her for a physical office. “I was given this office space by the county. I was able to spread my wings and venture into photography completely. From there, I developed myself, and my clientele kept expanding,” she said. Apart from wedding shoots, she works with an array of organisations, acting as their communications officer and social media manager. There were challenges along the way, however. “It was not easy to make my way to the top in a community governed by religion. I had to blend in and try and fit in. I had to adjust my lifestyle to fit into their culture and religion.” She learned of Islamic festivals like Mauli, where prayers are offered for newlyweds. In such events, she had to fully cover her body including her hair in order to show respect for their religion. “At first, I faced a lot of difficulties. I was used to wearing simple clothes when I first arrived. So one day, a Muslim lady came up to me. She mentioned that I was doing a great job, but that in order to get more gigs, I needed to dress more “decently”. I had to change my entire wardrobe and would sometimes wear hijabs to shoots just to show my respect,” Marura explained. Marura’s husband has seen her grow from barely knowing anything about photography to being the most famous female photographer in Lamu. “Marura has created a name for herself here. She is not only the main female photographer who covers Islamic weddings in Lamu, but she has also been appointed the communications officer for the Lamu county government,” Mwangi disclosed. Marura has exceeded her own expectations and shown that there is a place for women in photography. She believes there is a gap and women have the opportunity to tell their stories through the lens. Mohammed Scanda, the speaker of the youth parliament in Lamu county and coordinator of Muslim human rights in Lamu county, now works closely with the photographer. “I work on the rights of the youth in Lamu, this includes political and human rights... With a female photographer, we are able to reach the women in Lamu and give them an opportunity to speak out and air their grievances. Through photography, women have been given a voice," he explained. Lamu residents have nominated Marura for the Pwani Women's Award - an event that celebrates the outstanding achievements of women in the coastal region of Kenya, which she won. She was chosen as the Woman of the Year by her community as well. ‘In Lamu, women have not yet taken to photography. It might be as a result of their lack of access to a learning environment... My goal is to start a training facility to impart photography skills to young people, especially in Lamu,” she concluded. bird story agency

A surge in construction activity in Africa is drawing a new breed of investors eyeing mass timber - and the carbon-trapping forests needed to support it - as a sustainable building alternative to traditional concrete and steel. Seth Onyango, bird story agency Wooden buildings like the engineered timber construction planned for the world's tallest wood building in Zanzibar may only be starting to appear in cities worldwide but that is not stopping investors from betting on wood becoming a key building block in African construction. "About 200 years ago, everyone was building with timber, then it shifted to cement, steel, and stones. Now people are going back, especially with modern housing," explained Karl Kirchmayer, co-founder and managing partner at ASC Impact. Although wood buildouts in major cities and towns are hardly in the main stream, the trajectory, based on recent commercial activity, leans towards a timber-centric future, according to ASC. In October 2022 the Burj Zanzibar was unveiled on the East African archipelago as the world’s tallest hybrid timber structure. Due for completion in 2026, it is located in Fumba Town, Zanzibar's pioneering eco-town developed by the German-led engineering firm CPS. A growing interest in wood is fueled by its sustainability credentials and the increasing global emphasis on reducing the carbon intensity of the construction sector. According to Energy Monitor, replacing energy-intensive building materials with timber prevent more than 100 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere by the end of the century. According to Kirchmayer, the popularity of hybrid housing units, where concrete is used only for the foundations and timber for the majority of the structure, is also set to gain in popularity due to faster construction times. With vast lands conducive to tree growth, Kirchmayer and ASC Impact believe that Africa is ripe for reforestation initiatives that support mass timber production and other green projects. "The best way to sequester carbon is by planting new forests, particularly across vast surfaces. Utilizing these trees for timber means the carbon is sequestered in the buildings, replacing steel and cement. This carbon remains bound as long as the structure stands," he said. Substituting all the imports of sawn wood and construction wood is where they see the biggest benefit. "So we want to produce the construction wood for the inland market. With new plantations and forests and sustainable forestry, you create not only the timber and sustainable construction material but also a lot of sequestration, substituting steel and cement," he explained. Already, ASC has concessioned over 300,000 hectares for reforestation and is targeting an investment of €400 million in the coming years. To avoid pushback from governments apprehensive about allocating land solely for forestation, ASC Impact is integrating agriculture and carbon offset projects into their offerings. "So we are planting for inland consumption... we are planting corn, soybeans, sunflowers, and various other crops," he said. "Communities and governments are much more open to investments in agriculture than to only carbon sequestration or reforestation projects. So we have not only the agricultural revenue, but also the timber revenues after a very long period, and we are also selling carbon credits." This model has resonated with investors. Kirchmayer notes that one of the key challenges facing mass timber adoption in Africa is the existing regulatory framework, which often favours energy-intensive construction methods. However, progressive policy changes and increasing awareness of sustainable building practices are beginning to pave the way for greater acceptance of mass timber. Early adopters in countries like Kenya and South Africa are setting precedents, showcasing the feasibility and benefits of mass timber structures. "I know this is a cultural thing and also a development thing in the way that people think that higher quality construction is with concrete and cement," he said. ASC Impact, with a footprint in Congo Brazzaville, Ethiopia, and Angola, is not the only company trying to ensure that timber is seen as a building solution for the future, in Africa and elsewhere. Last year, New Forests, a forestry company based in Australia, raised US$200 million from three investors for its new fund that aims to support sustainable forestry in Africa. The fund, named the African Forestry Impact Platform (AFIP), is the first fund dedicated to Africa by New Forests. The fund has a target of raising US$500 million in the next two to three years. bird story agency

Art, music, a thirst for political expression and a role as an ambassador for a girls' program have given this young woman a bright future. Now she is set on building a path for others to follow. Amy West, bird story agency “Where I grew up, no-one asks a girl, ‘what do you want to be?’” said 19-year-old Boitumelo Kgame, of her early life growing up in a South African township. “So many things are normalized in the community. The whole culture of sugar daddies, older men dating young girls. It’s not okay that people from the township comment on what girls wear or the way you look. So many things have been normalised and no-one speaks about it. Even older people that are discriminating the girl child... you are supposed to respect them, greet them, give them that space as older people. You are constantly seeking this idea of safety in the community,” she said. Despite the challenges, however, many of Kgame's generation are learning to make informed choices. In her case, it was thanks to a novel programme. “When DREAMS came to my school, it gave what was happening to me and around me terms to understand things better. Comprehensive sexuality education helped me make sense of things,” Kgame explained. The program, whose name stands for Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe, focuses on schools as platforms to improve girls’ leadership skills, well-being, and health, seeking to retain them in school for longer and to open greater future social and economic possibilities for them. "DREAMS... taught me that my body belongs to me. It taught me about sexual health, things that I wasn’t aware of and that I wasn’t taught at home. “I knew what to do if someone came to me with a problem, and so I could have the conversations for others to feel safe and empowered. It made me feel heard, respected and understood." The University of Cape Town dorm room in which Kgame is speaking could hardly be more different to the childhood she describes. This space is clearly her own, inviolate; a bed neatly made, a music corner with a violin leaning against a wall and above the music stand, Kgame’s favourite album covers taped like family photos to the wall. Among the album covers is a photo of Bra K. He taught her how to play the violin, she explained, using music to teach self-discipline and to open township kids’ minds to a world of possibilities. For her, he was the M in DREAMS, the mentor. In a community where many children are raised by relatives or family friends, a mentor can make all the difference. Above Kgame’s desk, the art taped to the wall is mainly by Black artists. There is beauty and strength. “There is a political element to the art. There is a political element to Black bodies too. These are artists who want to show what it means to be Black, that Black art doesn’t always need to be created from a place of pain,” she shared, as the golden light of a Cape afternoon moved through her room. “At a certain age, you realize your body doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to society. People have comments about your body and they take that power from you, of how you perceive yourself. And then your behaviour - it isn’t about you. If you don’t act according to community standards, then it’s problematic. You are caged in your own body. I have been socialized like that,” she stated. Kgame and her older sister - who was the primary caregiver while their mother worked to support the family - are the first women in their family to attend university. “When I was in high school, there was a lot of teenage pregnancy. The people I grew up with, some of them now are deceased because they died of AIDS. There is now this fashion of dreaming for yourself and working towards your dreams. In my time, it was maybe that individual and that individual, and there was not a lot of care about who you were to become tomorrow. But I think USAID and organizations like them are committed to bringing education to township schools and getting young people more exposed to what you can become” her sister said. For Kgame’s former teacher, Mogami Unati, school represents an opportunity for conversations to be had that cannot easily be had at home. “There are so many norms and beliefs about the kinds of conversations to have or not have. As teachers we are trained, so these conversations become easier. Grannies don’t feel sex is a subject matter for girl children to discuss. “There is teenage pregnancy. There is sexual and gender-based violence in our communities. Even young girls, because of the financial crisis and situation at home, they will date adults. "But if we talk to them about this, we can talk about the disadvantages and consequences of engaging in such activities. School is such an important space to open these conversations, to talk to learners about what is happening - including rape - that many families don’t even know about," she added. Coming into contact with DREAMS - which is supported by South Africa's Department of Basic Education and the U.S. Government - changed how she saw things, Kgame said. "I started to be more inquisitive. I started questioning why the girl child was always at the bottom of the social order. I realised I can be part of people that are catalysts for change, that want to make life easier for others, especially girls. "I was drawn to the issue of early pregnancy. I would see miscommunication and misinformation around contraception among girls my age. And there was misinformation about the clinic nearby as well," she said. "I would talk with the girls and make sure they were in a safe space within the clinic. Once you start talking about certain things, you create safe landing spaces for yourself and others," she shared. Kgame became an ambassador for the programme, sharing her learning with others in her school and the wider community. Participation as a cast member on the radio drama Life on Madlala Street gave Kgame a taste of the power of art and media to transform lives, to change narratives. “Being entrusted with the responsibility of being an ambassador and communicating about sexual gender-based violence and issues of HIV and AIDS – those are not light issues. They affect people globally. And being entrusted to represent people on this platform, I didn’t take it for granted and I still don’t take it for granted. "There is always this misperception that once someone knows more about sexual issues, they have some sort of sexual experience. Why can’t I just be educated about it?” These gaps and silences are now a motivating factor in Kgame's life. She is currently studying the links between gender, politics, and development, hoping to be able to inform future decisions about education. From the discussion, from the artists’ renderings on the wall, it is clear that something powerful has happened here, something that has helped this young woman make meaning of who she is, in a world that has a complicated relationship with how girls are perceived and socialised. “Learners are being fostered by grannies who don’t know about the information that Life Orientation classes provide. We need to educate these learners more on what is happening in their lives, so they will know what is right or wrong and take informed decisions," she explained. Amidst the art on Kgame’s wall, there is colour, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. There is also language. One message in particular stands out: 'I deserve to be happy and healthy'. bird story agency

University student Tholoana, a survivor of gender-based violence, loves helping others. She credits the memory of a loving grandmother - and the older woman's belief in education - with making her the rock she is today. Amy West, bird story agency When Tholoana was four, her grandmother taught her to write her name using a stick to carve out the letters in the sand outside her home, a one-bedroom brick house in a small, peri-urban area outside of Maseru, Lesotho. “She didn’t have much of an education, but she taught me letters by the shapes they formed: downward wash basins, chairs, standing tree, and eggs. This is how my name took form,” said Tholoana, recalling those early years, and speaking now at the Cape University of Technology (CPUT) in Cape Town. “I come from the dusty ground, like a true warrior,” she said, her eyes sparkling at the memory. Born to a teenage mother and then raised by her grandmother, it was her grandmother’s care and affection that Tholoana felt early in life, and who gave her an appreciation for education. “We didn’t have much, but I was not aware of what we lacked because my grandmother was there for me. I had a very close relationship with her. She knew very well I loved school and provided for what I needed.” Tholoana was being asked to reflect on DREAMS, the program she participated in as part of a collaboration between USAID and South Africa’s Department of Basic Education, while in high school. The South African program supports girls through critical health information, education and mentorship. DREAMS stands for Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe. While Tholoana, now a thriving 20-year-old, was happy to provide her insights for developmental purposes, her life story runs far deeper than the statistics could ever indicate. Her journey has taken her from the cosy care of a grandmother, living in the “kingdom in the sky”, Lesotho, to informal housing inside a township near Johannesburg, and back again, before her arrival in Cape Town in 2023. On the drive to CPUT that morning, the Uber driver had flipped on the radio, 99.5 FM. The voice that entered the car was deep, and male. “Gender-based violence. South Africa – where the struggle for women never ends,” it said. Over the driver’s shoulder loomed Table Mountain, its sandstone cliffs clear and bright in the sharp winter air, a sheet of heavy fog pouring through the neck between the mountain and its neighbour, Lion’s Head. It took millions of years for this incredible sandstone plateau to form. On this day, its deep gullies and towering crags seemed to offer a stark reminder that beauty can be formed from erosion, or from fury, from the stripping away or clashing of something elemental. The mountain’s refusal to sink beneath gravity’s crushing weight, its defiance evident in its constant presence above the city, is enough to take one’s breath away. On this day in particular, it seemed to stand for so much. “I have been fighting for a very long time,” Tholoana shared. The evidence is irrefutable. In this sub-region, one in three women - and in some countries, one in two - continue to experience gender-based violence in their lifetimes, with rates of HIV comparably higher among adolescent girls and young women ages 15 to 24 than their male counterparts. Add to this increasing number of teenage pregnancies that pull girls out of school and trap them in cycles of poverty, and a picture emerges of a society whose women and girls remain in crisis. And yet, the experience of many girls in this part of the world is that they enter womanhood with the same spirit of defiance characterized by the mountain, a constant reference point in this city. These young women, these human rocks – the giants, even - survive adolescence in spite of abuse, exploitation and violence from predatory forces that bend their minds, bodies and spirits in terrible directions. At 10 years of age, Tholoana’s grandmother died. She was sent to live with her mother and father in Soweto. There, she began a totally new life. She was forced to share a one-room shack with an unemployed father who “tortured” her mother under the influence of alcohol and was violent towards his children. More than once, Tholoana had literal and figurative knives at her throat and was forced to choose between her dreams and her dignity, because those around her deemed that she should not be allowed to have both. And yet, it is clear that in recounting the past, Tholoana is someone who is very much in forward motion. Eyes the colour of coal, there is fire in her gaze. This is not someone who sees herself as a victim. “I developed this sense of accepting things the way they are and not letting that define who I am,” she said. She explained that she is determined to use her experiences to lift others up, to help her show others there are many positive ways forward. Those who know her best speak of a resilience fed from something indefatigable, deep within her. “She has always learned from her surroundings and other people’s mistakes. She somehow distances herself from the wrong crowd. She is so strong,” explained a cousin. Along with what she learned from her grandmother, Tholoana credits the DREAMS program for some of her strengths. “Because we had these programs in our schools,” she explained, “we had information about safe spaces and how to be more assertive and not soft. We found alternatives to help us be productive at school regardless of the problems we had at home. DREAMS gave us information on safe spaces to study, they also taught us financial literacy so we had skills like entrepreneurship to sell things at school [and] extra money to support our learning," she said. Despite the issues at home, Tholoana found a safe haven in school, building a small group of friends, and learning multiple languages to fit in with those around her. Like many girls living in similar conditions, her school became home for Tholoana, a safe space for positive development, both for herself and for the girls around her. She also excelled at Life Orientation, a subject in school that tackled sexuality education, rights to safe relationships, personal well-being and social development. From her participation in Life Orientation classes and health and sports programming, Tholoana was selected to be a DREAMS Ambassador. The program teaches adolescent girls about their bodies, addresses social and cultural myths about sexual behaviours, sexual norms and safe practices, and helps them become more street-wise, not just around boys but also around those adults who delight in extinguishing the dreams of girls from under-resourced households. “DREAMS helped me with understanding [that] beyond the problems we are facing, there are also solutions. I knew where I could go, where to run to." As ambassadors for the program, Tholoana said, “We became those girls that were eager to tackle issues, we learned that change should start by us and we could be the ones initiating that change. We became social activists in a way, helping others like us.” When asked what makes Tholoana so strong, a former teacher put it simply: “Her response is forgiveness.” Asked whether all that she had learned had helped her build a relationship with her mother, Tholoana paused and looked into the distance. “It wasn’t easy for her: an adolescent girl jumping stages, becoming a domestic worker so young, meeting a guy, becoming a wife. I am a girl who has choices. But with my mother, she had no choice in anything. She would just take whatever the world was giving her. This played a big role in terms of the parent she became when she was supposed to parent me and my siblings. I cannot repeat the same mistakes. I am aware of what I need to say yes to and what I should not say yes to,” she said. At university, Tholoana is interested in public health and wants to work with the World Health Organization or humanitarian programs one day. Those dreams motivate her studies. In the meantime, she said, her role as a DREAMS Ambassador is something she will continue to carry with her. “I share what I have learned and open conversations with others. It’s all about access to information for me and other young women and girls.” Since arriving at CPUT, the 20-year-old student has researched domestic workers from Lesotho working in South Africa. She shares critical information in an effort to help mothers encourage their children to stay in school and realize a goal of higher education, whether in Lesotho or South Africa. She has also looked into the university application process and the financial and administrative support provided by the Lesotho government. She now provides advice to secondary school learners, reviewing academic records and helping them organize their calendars to highlight key dates – then arranges follow-ups with them. She also encourages and supports mothers wishing to start saving to support fees associated with the application process. Before starting university, she took a gap year. During that time, just like her mother, she worked as a domestic worker. “It’s okay to start small. It’s okay to know that you are not the person [others] see at the current moment. I was a domestic worker to earn money to pay for university, to give myself this opportunity. People looked at me and saw a domestic worker. But I was more than that,” she said. Working to raise money for university, for the dream she had set for herself, made her proud, she said. It also gave her time to reflect on her mother as an adolescent, working in similar conditions. The difference, in Tholoana’s case, is an education; one that may have resulted from the influence of her grandmother but which she, as a university student, has fully come to own. “Most of the qualities [Tholoana] has, she takes from her grandma,” her cousin said, smiling widely with pride. “Like her strength. Giving up is not even in her vocabulary," she added. Asked about that strength, Tholoana smiled. “I have been raised by a large community of people that I look up to. They have given me parental love, all combined. They play parts that could have been played by my mother or my dad. They have supported me emotionally and financially and set an example for me.” She sat up straight, appearing taller by an inch. “So often in my life, there’s been a great thing burning. And, I believe if I persist, I will live to tell a story of success from all of this.” bird story agency

After the introduction of radio programs in their local language, farmers in a rural district of eastern Zambia experienced a remarkable transformation. Bauti Chipeta is one of those farmers. Misheck Khumbilo Nyirongo, bird story agency For Bauti Chipeta, working the land among the rolling hills and lush fields of the Lundazi District in the heart of eastern Zambia, life had begun to feel like an endless struggle. With fertilisers increasingly expensive and the land more and more denuded, cash crops brought in less and less each year and the cutting down of local forests had led to erratic rainfall. Then Chipeta discovered a local community radio station, Chikaya. “I started listening to community radio in 2018, when they also introduced us to permaculture and agroecology approaches on how to grow local seeds,” Chipeta recalled. The result has been a transformation in agricultural practices in the area. “I practice conservation farming, which involves ripping in the field about 15 cm depth and applying organic manure (to) half of the ripped area. And the manure should not be fresh from the kraal, but well decomposed. Aside the balanced nutrient supply, organic fertilizers add organic matter to the soil if a long-term application is practiced," he said. For Chipeta and countless other farmers in Lundazi, radio has become a crucial lifeline - and a key part of their lives. "The farming radio programs are relevant to our own agricultural activities; our language and accents are used, and they contribute to the program content,” Chipeta explained. A beacon of hope. In the early 1990s, radio in eastern Zambia took root with pioneers like Mike Daka and Godfrey Chitalu. Daka kick-started the first commercial station, Breeze FM, in the main Eastern Province town of Chipata, while Chitalu embarked on a community radio journey with Chikaya, in Lundazi District. Chitalu and Daka shared a common goal: "to see communities empowered with information to change their lives." Since then, radio has emerged as a vital tool in reshaping the lives of rural residents across the Eastern Province and today boasts nearly one station per district. Radio remains the most accessible mass medium in Zambia, with an estimated 67% of the population using it. It can be accessed through simple and inexpensive devices, including mobile phones, and consumes less power compared to television. Local language broadcasts make radio highly relevant in the community context. Chipeta and his fellow farmers now rely on local radio programming not only for agricultural knowledge but also for social engagement and entertainment, as well as for their children's education. Community radio programs offer a diverse range of content, including sports, music, religion and radio dramas in the local dialect, Tumbuka. In a digital era, traditional ceremonies are live-streamed by radio stations. Crucially, radio also offers opportunities for literacy and learning programming to access learners. Organisations like the Educational Development Centre (EDC) have supported interactive learning programming, including through the USAID Let's Read Activity, which has leveraged radio to improve literacy levels. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the EDC helped ensure that children continued with educational activities by supporting local radio. The World Association of Community Broadcasters described the station as “capturing the essence of radio's role in Eastern Zambia - bridging the gap between communities and the information they crave.” The EDC recognises the critical role of community radio stations because they predominantly broadcast in local languages. This linguistic alignment ensures that radio is not only a source of information but also a platform for representing diverse ideas and cultures. Agricultural challenges and radio as a catalyst for change For decades, farmers and households in the region faced a number of challenges. Government policies prioritised maize and cash crops, leading to a reduction in crop diversity. The introduction of herbicides, agrochemicals, and localised climate change due to a dramatic increase in deforestation further depleted agriculture and dietary diversity. Many in the community also believed that maize sufficiency could be equated with food sufficiency, leading to severe nutritional deficiencies. Moreover, access to agricultural information was limited. Agriculture extension services, though available, suffered due to transportation issues and communication barriers - and simply, too few extension officers for so many small-scale farmers. After Chipeta learned about agroecology through Chikaya, a non-governmental organisation stepped in to provide him and other farmers in his community with seeds for conservation farming. “Revival NGO gave us sunflower, local maize and also our own pumpkin seeds for intercropping. Intercropping promotes climate resilience through higher plant resource (space, nutrients, and water) efficiency and natural suppression of insect pests, pathogens, and weeds,” Chipeta recalled. Radio programs employ an 'entertainment-education' approach that inspires farmers to cultivate a wide variety of crops, contributing to household food and nutrition security. This includes a range of crops from starch-rich maize and cassava to protein sources like groundnut and beans - as well as traditional vegetables and tubers. “On radio, we learn a lot of issues like the outbreak of diseases, pest management, and land preparations. For example, I have already applied manure. (I'm) just waiting to plant. Besides, the beauty of radio is that while working in my field, I am able to listen to radio programmes too,” he said proudly. He also mentioned that the district has benefited from several wind-up radios in the past from organisations like the Education Development Centre (EDC). Through radio, agroecology practices have been amplified, allowing small-scale farmers to grow a variety of adapted traditional seeds and diverse crops. This approach not only ensures food security but also strengthens agricultural resilience in the face of climate change. Farmers also learn about the dangers of bush burning and alternatives to chemical fertilizers, such as animal manure and green manure from plants. Agroforestry approaches are promoted to improve soil fertility and prevent erosion while preserving trees. Peasant farmers are also encouraged to focus on long-term soil fertility and conservation techniques rather than migrating to urban areas for short-term work. Radio broadcasts extend beyond agriculture, covering health, education, business management, water, sanitation, gender issues, and even COVID-19 information. A transformational journey No one acknowledges the impact of radio programming on farming and on her family's health, more than Chipeta's wife, Margret Nyirenda. “The agroecology practice is good, as the benefits are numerous. Such as, we are able to grow diverse nutritious crops, which provide healthy and safe food. For example, eating nshima (porridge) of local maize, with our favourite red beans that produces red soup - ‘nchunga zamu msuzi uswesi’ - is not only mouth-watering but also very tasty and nutritious,” Nyirenda said. With support from organizations like Revival NGO, the benefits of agroecology have become apparent in the couple's district in terms of improved food security, nutrition, incomes, democracy, health, and justice, according to Lundazi District Agricultural Coordinator Edward Mchundu, who links the health of the farming community to the health of the soil. “Organic farming is getting important when people are polluting the soil and environment with harmful chemicals and pesticides. Organic farming provides the option of enriching the soil with organic compost and protecting the soil from chemicals,” Mchundu said. Without radio, options for farmers would have been limited, according to Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambian Chairperson, Reverend Barnabas Simatende, who also pointed out the crucial role of community radio during the COVID-19 pandemic. "For many, radio has been a key medium to access information," said Simatende. "Globally, the pandemic has plagued many countries, and lifesaving information about the virus has been communicated through radio as a trusted medium of communication." Radio has not only been a source of information but also a lifeline for rural Zambians, promoting traditional foods and diets and fostering a favourable food policy environment. As Chipeta tends to his fields, listening to the radio, he knows that his work is not just about growing food; it's about transforming lives and communities. bird story agency