21/11/2025
Field visits always remind us why this work is so important. Every story, every improvement, and every step forward is a glimpse into what empowerment looks like in real life.
This week, we visited the Chipakata School of Tailoring Group in Mwachilele Ward, Rufunsa District, a women-led initiative that received a K10,000 CDF grant earlier this year. Through our partnership with the Rufunsa Council, we completed KUWALA’s financial literacy and entrepreneurship training.
What we found was inspiring.
Using the skills gained, the group has turned their grant into a fully functioning tailoring business. They have purchased a sewing machine, started producing school uniforms for nearby communities, and are offering families affordable and accessible services. Even more impactful, they are now producing reusable sanitary pads, a simple innovation with a meaningful impact on menstrual hygiene for schoolgirls.
Their coordinator, Debra Banda, shared their vision to grow further: acquiring additional machines, expanding production, and training other women and youths in tailoring. Their dream is not only to sustain their business, but to multiply opportunities across their ward.
Their journey is a powerful reminder that CDF on its own is not enough. Funding without financial skills can fade quickly. But when resources are paired with knowledge, budgeting, record-keeping, reinvesting, and planning, they become tools for real, lasting transformation.
Financial literacy remains at the heart of building resilient women, stronger households, and thriving communities. When a woman is equipped with clarity and confidence, her progress becomes a ripple that touches everyone around her.
