Mudelanji Builds a Stronger Future with Better Financial Tools

In Namasalima Village in southern Malawi, Mudelanji stands beside the small grocery business she built with discipline, focus, and a new set of skills. At 44, she supports her family with a steady income, pays her children’s school fees, and makes confident decisions about money – something she couldn’t imagine doing just a year ago. 

When Mudelanji joined the Titukulane group (meaning “let’s grow together”) under the Opportunity International AgFinance Financial Access for Rural Markets, Smallholder and Enterprises (FARMSE) project in August 2023, she brought with her determination and the desire to grow. But she also carried the daily weight of financial uncertainty. Like many smallholder farmers, she struggled to keep her household and farm finances in order. Without a clear way to track income or expenses, budgeting felt impossible. Cash flow challenges made it hard to invest in her farm or plan for her children’s future. 

That changed after she attended financial literacy and business management trainings offered through her Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) saving group. She learned to budget, track spending, and calculate profits. For the first time, she kept consistent records of her sales and farm activity, giving her a clear picture of where her money was going and how to make it work harder for her. 

With this knowledge, Mudelanji launched a small grocery shop. She applied what she learned about pricing, inventory, and managing cash flow, and she tracked every transaction with care. Slowly, the business began to grow. Profits increased day by day. She started saving regularly. The income from the grocery, combined with her improved farm planning, allowed her to cover school fees, buy uniforms and books for her children, and put more nutritious food on the table. 

By controlling costs, avoiding unnecessary spending, and planning ahead, she now runs both her home and her business with greater confidence and independence. Her farm is more productive, her business is thriving, and her family is more secure. 

Mudelanji’s story is one of many showing how access to the right training and tools, combined with hard work, can unlock new opportunities. She didn’t just learn how to manage money. She learned how to take control of her future.