Sara Msowoya, 37, now smiles with confidence. But for many years, this mother of four felt a deep sense of worthlessness. Sara was often left to care for her children on her own while her husband sought work outside their community in Malawi.
“I relied on my husband’s financial support to ensure our family’s survival. It was challenging because my husband rarely sent money, sometimes leaving us without assistance for months, and I had to seek help from others to support myself and my four children,” says Sara.
Everything began to change when Sara had the opportunity to join a livelihoods program facilitated by World Renew’s local partner, Eagles. Through this experience, not only did her family’s situation begin to improve, but Sara’s sense of self-worth also grew.
“In 2020, my pastor asked me to represent our church at a meeting that Eagles had organized… the facilitator talked about pillars. She explained about everyone being independent and also helping our communities to change, for God is not pleased seeing us facing challenges,” Sara recalls. “I was very quiet, listening attentively… The facilitator went on to explain that everyone possesses resources that can enhance their lives, and our only task is to uncover these resources that are all around us.”
After the meeting, Sara spent a sleepless night reflecting on the resources she already had. The next morning, she wrote everything down.
“I realized I possessed land for farming and gardening, which I could use even when I lacked rain,” she says. “I planned to plant some vegetables while waiting for the rainy season.”
Sara got to work. Before long, her efforts began to pay off as she started selling vegetables from her kitchen garden.
“This helped me pay fees for my son, who is in secondary school; feed my children; and provide all my basic needs by myself because my husband could not support me,” she explains.
Her success continued to grow. In 2021, Sara used profits from selling groundnuts and maize to purchase chairs for her home and three bags of cement to repair her living room floor. During the 2022–2023 season, she expanded her activities—buying 10 chickens, as well as rice and Irish potatoes—selling them to cover school fees and other household needs. In February 2024, she took another step forward by purchasing two pigs.
Today, Sara’s transformation is evident—not only in her livelihood, but in how she speaks about herself and her future.
“I thank God for connecting me to this organization. I could have died in poverty, but thanks to Eagles’ interventions, I have food on my table every day. I am not a beggar anymore. People admire me these days, and I am one of the facilitators in my community who teaches individuals to work hard,” says Sara, smiling with confidence.
“Transformation comes from working hard. I am a testimony, since I am no longer the same. I am a happy mother because I can provide for my children. Wait to see how much I achieve in the future!”
Sara’s story is a powerful reminder that change often begins with recognizing the strengths and resources we already have. With determination, support, and opportunity, individuals like Sara are building more secure futures for themselves and their families—step by step, season by season.
