Ndapilira makes a living from Soap Making
“My ex-husband used to beat me up almost every day. At some point, he got into a secret affair with another woman and when I confronted him, he turned abusive. One day, I collapsed and fell unconscious due to excessive beating. Thus, I divorced him,” Ndapilira narrated her ordeal.
Ndapilira*1, a 31-year-old single mother with 5 children; 3 male and 2 female, comes from Kajawo Village under GVH Ntenje in the area of Traditional Authority Machinjiri in Blantyre District. What started as a promising married life turned into a nightmare as her marriage turned out so abusive. She was subjected to acts of GBV2 that included physical beating, neglect, and demeaning words from her ex-husband whom she divorced afterwards.
As per the matrilineal cultural system, Ndapilira remained with her five children when she divorced her abusive husband. This made her life tough economically. She used to do piece works to survive with her children. “At times, we could go on an empty stomach for a day or two. As a mother, it was always heart-breaking to see my children hungry yet in a position unable to feed them,” Ndalira narrated her ordeal.
In November 2023, Ndapilira was among women and girls that received vocational skills trainings in various trades including Laundry Soap Making under the Empowering Women and Girls Project that CYO is implementing. Following the training, Ndapilira and seven other women formed a group and started a soap-making business. After laundry soap sales, the group shares the dividends on a weekly basis and Ndapilira uses her share to take care of her household. “I managed to finalize payment for a piece of land, buy iron sheets for the house I intend to build on the plot and a solar system that lights up my house,” Ndapilira shared her accomplishments realized from the Laundry Soap business.
Ndapilira’s story is one of many stories that women and girls whom the Empowering Women and Girls project is targeting. CYO is implementing this three-year project in Blantyre and Neno districts with support from Global Affairs Canada through the Commonwealth of Learning.
1 * Not Real Name
2 Gender Based Violence