Savings For Transformation (S4T) changes Mary’s Life.

The Financial and Business management training has helped Watson and other Savings for Transformation members to venture into various businesses such as tailoring and farming.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Mary Watson, 28, from Sabao village, Traditional Authority Chimombo in Nsanje district, is one of the few women living their dream. Watson once a subsistence farmer, she is now earning a better living from tailoring, which has enabled her to expand into livestock farming while also saving the extra income. Watson owes all this to World Vision’s Savings for Transformation (S4T) programme.

“I have never had an opportunity to earn money I could call my own. All I knew was working on the farm with my husband, and it was just enough for food. When World Vision came with the savings information, I decided to take part. I did not know things would be this good,” she says.

Married with two girls and a boy, Watson says her first savings gave her the opportunity to buy a sewing machine, chickens, and even support her children better than before.

“With this machine, I have been making a lot of money. I am now able to meet my daily needs and support my husband in running our home. The chickens are also multiplying. I see our home growing economically,” narrates Watson.

The Nyachipele Livelihoods and Resilience Technical Programme trained 626 Savings for Transformation (S4T) group members and promoters, including Watson. The training focused not only on saving income but also on how to multiply it further.

At Nyachipere Area Programme, the S4T Programme objective was to ensure that all Nyachipele S4T groups have sufficient knowledge and skills in S4T methodology, financial literacy, numerical skills, and business management so that they could effectively run S4T groups in their community for improved and sustainable livelihoods.

Watson inspecting her guinea fowls, a key part of her poultry farming venture.

Following the training, Watson and her fellow S4T group members say that they are now able to manage their S4T group independently. The group has successfully put MK124,670,000 into circulation which its members are now able to borrow at a minimal interest while investing in various income-generating activities of their choice.

“There are thirteen women and two men. We coordinate well, and as for me, I expect to double last year’s output this year, just from my savings,” says Watson.