Written by Shade’s Tanzanian Communications Coordinator Ester Wilson
At 23, Amina is a wife, a mother of one daughter, and a graduate of Shade’s Community Club program. Her journey has not been easy – poverty forced her to drop out of school at just 14, cutting short her dream of an education.
Her passion for farming began when she worked as a housemaid in the Tanga Region at the age of 18. The family she worked for kept chickens, and she quickly developed a love for caring for them. After returning home, she got married, started a family, and used her small savings to buy chickens and goats.
Without proper knowledge, Amina struggled. Her chickens often died from diseases, and she did not know how to control the losses. Now she believes that God was with her during those challenges and was preparing her for a turning point. Joining Shade’s Community Club changed her story. She learned modern poultry skills, how to detect sickness, access treatment, and raise chickens with fewer deaths.
Amina received 10 chickens from Shade at her graduation from the Community Club, and her flock has now grown to 40 chickens. With faith in God, Amina dreams of becoming a large-scale poultry farmer: selling eggs and chickens across Shinyanga, buying land, building a home, and giving her daughter the education she missed out on.
Grateful for Shade’s support, Amina says “I thank God, Shade, and all those with generous hearts who empower young people like me. May this support continue to reach many others in need.”
