Dilsara

Dilsara is 28 and lives in Jima. She has three children; two daughters and a son. For the last few months, she has been involved in our nutrition project in Mugu. Before getting involved, Dilsara worked as a traditional farmer, and had to carry out additional labour jobs on the side, to supplement her income. However, her life is beginning to change. When asked about her time on the project, she has this to say:

“Being able to grow a variety of vegetables and raise my own poultry has been very inspiring. It has provided me with more than enough to eat. I was also able to gift my relatives with the excess produce and was even able to have enough to sell in the market. I look forward to getting additional support from the project for further commercial farming. With the new rural roads being build, jeeps are arriving and new market has been developed. This autumn I earned 60,000 rupees by selling vegetables. I appreciate PHASE’s support in giving me the skills, ideas and input to be able to do something by myself. My husband now looks up to me and helps in the farm.”

Our sustainable livelihoods programmes are about more than meeting targets. Because she was able to earn more money last autumn, Dilsara can now comfortably afford to send her children to school, where they will receive a proper education. By increasing her crop yield, she can make sure her family always has enough food to eat. Our integrated approach means that we can break the cycle of poverty, and ensure that no one gets left behind.