A Widow's Might

by Eli Toribio (The Zambia)

In Zambia, 68% of the population lives below the poverty line in predominantly in rural areas. More than 22% of Zambia’s 11 million people live in female headed households. These households are disproportionately poor. Widows are among the most vulnerable poor in this country. Amidst this, one day I met Amayi (woman) Agatha Makasa, a widow who is an incredible example of life transformed, sustained, and abundantly blessed by our Lord Jesus. A mother of eight children and grandmother, Amayi Agatha is in her sixties and looks younger than her age. She has been a widow for more than five years. Despite her loss, her community considers Amayi Agatha a hard working farmer, serious learner, entrepreneur, brick maker, and role model

Amayi Agatha has been an active member of the Maposa Farmers Group, Ndola Rural, Copperbelt, Zambia for three years now. This group of 100 farmers is assisted by RCZ- Diaconia Department Western Region (RCZ-DD), a CRWRC partner. RCZ-DD helps Maposa Farmers Group with food security by providing training in farming skills that focuses on conservation farming, crops diversification, inter-cropping, and agriculture marketing. The farmers are also receiving certified maize seeds for the first and second years.
Like a young pupil, Amayi Agatha absorbed all this new learning and immediately applied it. When I visited her farm three weeks ago, I saw that her newfound learning was put to good use. Healthy, bountiful crops of maize, peanuts, and beans warmly greeted us. Amayi Agatha is now able to send her school-aged children and grandchildren to school. She even bought a bicycle, the main mode of transportation in rural Zambia. To top it all, she was able to build a modest brick house from the proceeds of her crop!

Not only is Amayi Agatha’s life an amazing example, her self esteem also has been enhanced by the program. When we spoke with her, she smiled and responded to our questions with confidence. Her thankful attitude to God was so contagious, overshadowing others’ complaints of lack or of having nothing. Indeed, she has been acknowledged not only by the farmers group but by the whole village as a role model to emulate. When asked about her hope for the future, Amayi Agatha responded, “I hope that I could continue to teach other widows like me about the farming I am doing right now. Lord willing, in the future, I want to be a commercial farmer.”