'Organisations like CHASE Africa can change a woman's life'
“I think organisations like CHASE Africa can change a woman’s life. We have seen our lives change through family planning and table banking training.”
Venzentina Ekai lives in Kenya’s Baringo County. When one of our partner organistions, Dandelion Africa, started working in the area, Venzetina was one of many women who learned accurate information about family planning for the first time.
Venzetina has been using family planning for four years. Through training provided by Dandelion Africa she was inspired to set up her own business. She now sells essentials to her community in her shop, while caring for her two children aged seven and four years old. Venzetina provides for her family’s needs and has high hopes for their future.
Before Dandelion Africa inspired me to start my own business, I used to depend on local cheap labour work on the nearby farms. In Katorongot, there are people of all ages who only depend on temporary and inconsistent casual labour.
Through my business I have been able to get food to our table and educate my children. It has also helped me to earn money, some of which I have saved with my in my table banking group (a small savings group that enables women to save regularly and then borrow money when necessary).
Nobody used to even think about my village until Wendo (Dandelion Africa’s founder) came to our rescue. She inspires me and that’s where I draw my motivation to continue working hard.
I remember when I was young I could go to school without breakfast and our evening dinner was not even guaranteed. For now, my children can access clothing and food which is very different compared to my life growing up.
“God willing, I hope that my children complete their education, and have good lives. And I also wish to continue to achieve more. My biggest hope is to save profits from my small shop business to become a big farmer.”
Family planning gives Venzetina time to provide for her children
I learned about family planning during group meetings at Dandelion Africa. Personally, it has benefited me because when I had my first born, I had no idea about contraception, so my second child was unplanned.
Of course, I enjoy being a parent. After all, I feel like it is good to have responsibility and I don’t feel lonely because my children always make me laugh. When we are free, they play with their ball and I join them, or we usually play music while in the house and we all dance which makes me feel good.
Family planning has given me a chance to earn money. When you have a young child you don’t have time to go and look for money. Now I have time to work as my children are at school during the day. When they are at home, they play with other children in the area if I am at work.
I know I can space children and decide when to have a baby. I might like one more child in future. So, I am very grateful for learning about family planning, otherwise I would have seven or eight children and wouldn’t have come this far.
Venzetina outside her shop
“Life could have been so hard. I think if two or three children is still a challenge, what would it be like having seven or eight children?”
I encourage women who live near me, who have no knowledge and access to family planning to visit Dandelion Africa so they too can learn more, choose a method if they want to, and understand the usefulness of spacing children.