We Chose to Invest, Not Just Eat the Money

The Makina family smiles alongside their Form 2 daughter, Ethel, who helps in the garden when she's not in class. With school fees now covered through their vegetable sales, the family stands proud - proof that when children understand the source of support, education becomes a shared mission.

When Bwanali Makina, 50, and his wife Lucy Tomasi, 48, from Mpangiwa Village, GVH Mayaka 1, Sub TA Mwembere received their Social Cash Transfer, trainings under SP-GEAR project helped them make a decision that changed their life.

“We thought we shouldn’t just eat the money,” says Bwanali. “We needed to invest it in something that would support the family every day.” 

The couple, who have five children, are members of the Tsogolo Village Savings and Loans (VSL) club, under the Social Protection for Gender Empowerment and Resilience (SP-GEAR) project implemented by CRECCOM with support from the European Union, Government of Ireland, and UNICEF. 

Bwanali Makina and his wife Lucy Tomasi draw water from a nearby borehole to support their irrigation farming. Teamwork, even in the simplest daily tasks, is the backbone of their growing success.

After being trained by their Community-Based Trainer (CBT), Annie Muhuwa, they were encouraged to use their cash wisely—not just to survive, but to grow.

That’s when they started their irrigation farming business, growing a variety of crops including rape, mustard greens (locally known as “Chinese”), tomatoes, pumpkins, and nandolo (pigeon peas).

Working as a team, Bwanali and Lucy manage the garden together, and their children also help. Their daughter Ethel, who is in Form 2 at Mayaka Community Day Secondary School, supports them in the garden, fully aware that her K40,000 school fees are paid from the farm’s daily earnings.

“From this business, we make up to K8,000 a day, which helps us with food, school needs, and other household expenses,” says Lucy. “We even have two goats now.”

The Makina family gathers to feed their goats - Livestock they proudly purchased using earnings from their irrigation farming.

The couple is thankful for the guidance they received through the SP-GEAR project. “Things have really changed,” says Bwanali. “By 2028, we want to own a motorbike and at least four cows. Our goal is to have a family where all our household needs are met.”