“Tipindule” unlocks Shadrack’s dream
Shadrack Banda's journey from hardship to prosperity in Thangani Village in Salima District exemplifies resilience supported by Tilimbike and Tipindule projects. Married with seven children, Banda faced daunting challenges as a subsistence farmer, often struggling to provide enough food and education for his family
“Feeding and providing education support for my children was a nightmare. At times we would eat once a day as food would not be enough. It was miserable,” he recalls.
Banda’s misery was compounded by rising cost of living including farm inputs.
In 2019, seeking a way to improve his circumstances, Banda joined Tiyetsetse Village Savings and Loans Group (VSLG). He began with small contributions, but the group lacked essential skills in business management and operational dynamics, which hindered his efforts to secure adequate funding for his grocery business.
“My plan was to boost household income with profits from the grocery shop as farming was not enough to address the financial challenges in my family. However, the start to grocery business was not encouraging as I could not borrow enough money for my capital,” he narrates.
A turning point for Banda and 16 other members of Tiyetsetse VSLG came in 2021 with the introduction of the “Tilimbike” project by ActionAid Malawi, supported by FARMSE, an acronym for Financial Access for Rural Markets, Smallholders and Enterprises.
This initiative provided training in VSL methodology and business management, which revitalized the VSLG. In 2023, the project evolved into the “Tipindule” initiative, bringing even greater transformation among beneficiaries, including Banda.
“Tipindule Project linked our Village Savings and Loans Group to CUMO, a microfinance institution. This enabled me to borrow more money which I have been investing in my grocery business. My business sales have soared from K15,000 daily in 2022 to K60,000 daily now,” says Shadrack
Through the group, he also learned valuable agroecology skills, such as making organic manure, enhancing his farming practices. Today, Banda's life has significantly improved.
“My family never lacks food, I can support my children’s education, and I’ve even built a new grocery shop. I’m planning to buy a motorbike for the business,” he says, radiating optimism and pride in his accomplishments.