“No Turning Back”: How Food Processing Skills Helped Faudhia Rewrite Her Future

That’s the bold declaration of Faudhia, a young mother of two from Morogoro whose life has been transformed by the Skills for Employment Tanzania (SET) project. Through this initiative, young women like Faudhia have moved from the margins of the economy into the heart of local enterprise.

And it all began with a packet of crisps.

From Farm Labour to Entrepreneur: One Training, Many Turns

Like many young mothers in rural Tanzania, Faudhia’s opportunities were limited. “I stayed home helping my parents and worked as low-paid labor on other people’s farms,” she recalls. “The money I earned was not enough to support my children.”

That changed in 2023 when she joined 200 young mothers in a SET training programme focused on food processing and savings group formation. Participants learned to make crisps, chili sauce, and biscuits but they also picked up something even more powerful: confidence, financial literacy, and a community of support.

“With support from Swisscontact and MVIWAMORO, we formed a group of 25 members called Amani Group,” she says. “We focused on food production and savings through a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA).”

While only 10 members remained active in food processing a year later, the savings culture took root. Seventeen women continued participating in the VSLA, showing that in rural contexts, even partial retention can ignite economic change.

Small Loans, Big Dreams

Faudhia’s turning point came when she took her first loan - approximately CHF 75 (TZS 200,000) to launch a small business making chili sauce and crisps. That led to a profit of around CHF 38 (TZS 100,000), which she reinvested to qualify for a second, larger loan of about CHF 132 (TZS 350,000). This time, she went a step further: using an irrigation system, she cultivated one acre of white eggplant and okra.

“I thank Swisscontact and MVIWAMORO for giving me a special opportunity to learn food processing, saving, business management, and self-awareness. These skills have changed my life,” she says.

And she’s not stopping there.

“I plan to become one of the most successful businesswomen in the country. There’s no turning back from my past struggles. The future is bright and promising for me and my children.”

Empowering Mothers, Strengthening Communities

Swisscontact’s work in Tanzania emphasizes inclusive skills development - especially for women and youth who have been left out of formal systems. By combining practical training with soft skills, market access, and group-based financial tools, the SET project is creating a pipeline of rural entrepreneurs like Faudhia: resilient, resourceful, and ready to lead change in their communities.

In Tanzania’s growing economy, women are not just contributors - they’re changemakers. And with partners like MVIWAMORO, Swisscontact is ensuring that more women like Faudhia gain not just the tools to succeed, but the vision to thrive.

About the Skills for Employment Tanzania (SET) Project

The SET project empowers out-of-school youth and young mothers across Tanzania with market-relevant skills and entrepreneurship training, particularly in the agriculture and food processing sectors. In Morogoro, the project trained 200 young women in food processing, savings group management, and business development.

This project is financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) through the Embassy of Switzerland in Tanzania. It is implemented by Swisscontact as part of the Swisscontact Development Programme.