When her husband died in 2014, Stella Maulana, 39, suddenly became the breadwinner of her four children.
For years, the woman, from Mwingitsa Village in Neno District, relied on her husband to provide for the family of six.
“His death changed everything,” she says. “My children often missed school because I could not afford their basic needs.”
Maulana’s household survived on piecework that paid as low as K1 000 per day.
“This wasn’t enough for food and other daily needs. We often went to bed hungry,” she recounts.
In 2015, the household started receiving monthly social cash transfers designed to lift ultra-poor households out of poverty.
Her monthly cash-outs have risen from K5 700 to over K30 000 in the past decade.
“This was a huge relief,” Maulana states. “Now my children could afford three meals a day and school needs.”
To grow her meagre income, Maulana saved K40 000 and started selling tomatoes.
“A basinful worth K20 000 gives me a profit of K10 000,” she says. “With time, I started selling second-hand clothes at Lisungwi Trading Centre. With the growing businesses, I am now financially independent.”
The woman, who refused to put her eggs in one basket, has since renovated her house and bought pigs, goats and chickens.
“I no longer struggle to support my children. We now eat whatever we want,” she brags.
She uses organic manure for her maize field and backyard garden to improve her family’s nutrition.
This is one of the zero-to-hero tales of the Social Cash Transfer Programme implemented by the Government of Malawi and its partners.
Maulana encourages other beneficiaries to save and invest their monthly sums for sustainable livelihoods.
In Nelesani Village, Malita Jackson, 65, supports a family of six. For decades, they were living in a leaky single-room hut.
“Ours was a house of hunger,” she says. “It wasn’t easy to find food and send children to school.”
In 2015, the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare selected her household for the safety net programme.
Jacksoni joined Mulanguzi Savings and Loans group to grow her funds.
“The group gives me the ease to save part of the social cash transfer for lean days and do business. I have since bought iron sheets, bricks and goats. I had 15 goats,” she says.
She has since sold some goats and built a house roofed with iron sheets.
“We are now a happy family. We live in peace. We no longer fear the rainy season,” she states.
Jackson dreams big.
“When my six goats multiply, I will sell some and buy a cow,” she reveals.
At least 2 000 households in Neno have graduated from the programme since 2015.
This is part of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project funded by the Multi-Donor Trust Fund and the World Bank through the National Local Government Finance Committee.
The social cash transfers seek to eradicate poverty, increase school enrollment and reduce malnutrition in 10 percent of ultra-poor and labour-constrained households.
Traditional Authority Symon calls it a game-changer.
“Most beneficiaries in my area have improved houses, livestock and can now support their children’s education. Many are walking out of poverty,” he says.
However, he calls for greater investment, transparency and accountability so that no deserving household is left out.
“Only truly deserving individuals should benefit,” he says.
Amosi Chandilanga, Neno district social welfare officer responsible for social cash transfers, is pleased that some beneficiaries own emerging businesses to sustain themselves beyond the programme.
The programme has over 3 237 newly enrolled households, with more to be registered.
“We encourage the recipients to either start businesses or save their funds in VSL groups for long-term financial security,” he says.
