Mama Busiswe

Earning income in remote villages in Africa is a great challenge for many. In eSwatini, 63% of the population live below the poverty line and the life expectancy is 49 years. Almost every second child is either a half or full orphan.

However, Mama Busiswe, 61 years old, cannot be discouraged by gloomy statistics. She is from a rural village nestled in the mountains of eSwatini where she takes care of her 6 grandchildren. “I’ve been widowed for over 5 years. My two daughters and their husbands have all passed away, but I still have my grandchildren that need me even more now that they go to school,” she said.

Stronger together

It is well known in Africa that a community can make better progress. Mama Busiswe teamed up with 9 other women and founded a chicken project where they pooled their small savings and bought laying hens. A year later their 75 chickens are faithfully producing a steady income allowing the women to sell eggs and chicks throughout surrounding villages. The group has also employed a few disabled girls who have an extremely difficult position in the village communities.

Glasses give new hope

Mama Busiswe heads the chicken project and its administration. In the past she sewed school uniforms for children at the village school. However, due to her eyesight steadily decreasing she had to stop sewing entirely. Writing the accounts of the chicken project also became more difficult. When she heard that the Good Shepherd Eye Clinic’s eye team was coming to her village in Mercy Air’s helicopter, she knew right away that she definitely wanted to have her eyes checked out. Her hope was not disappointed. The eye examinations showed fortunately no cataracts, but she was given strong reading glasses.