From Fear to Faith: How One Mother Transformed Her Family’s Future

Rachael, a mother of three, used to feel trapped in the cycle of poverty. She relied entirely on her husband’s meager income as a cashew ripper and casual laborer, earning just KES 300 (about $2.00) per day. Because of this, they could barely provide meals for their children, often managing only once a day.  

One day, an opportunity came for Rachael. She received an invitation to join World Vision’s Savings for Transformation (S4T) group, Smart Move, in 2024. The first training she received was the Empowered World View, which changed her perspective. 

“That training gave me courage and faith,” she recalls. It lifted her spirit, strengthened her faith, and helped her see her own potential. She was no longer a fearful, full-time mother depending on her husband’s income. She began to envision possibilities and unleashed her own potential.  

With this new mindset, Rachael took a bold step. Through the Finance Accelerating Savings Group Transformation (FAST), an approach led by VisionFund, the financial inclusion arm of World Vision, savings groups such as Smart Move are lent capital to grow their businesses and livelihoods.  

In her first loan of KES 1,000 ($8) from VisionFund Kenya, Rachael invested it into building a small kibanda (vendor stall) to sell fruits and vegetables.  

“That little kibanda gave me hope,” she says. “Even though people looked down on it, I knew it was the beginning of my dream.” 

And it did not stop there. Through another KES 20,000 ($153) loan from the savings group, she rented a small shop, stocked it with cereals and household items, and maintained her stall as a steady side business.  

She also ventured into poultry farming and bought a dairy goat, further diversifying her income. Today, she earns around KES 350 ($3) from her shop, KES 150 ($1) from the stall, and sells a tray of eggs daily at KES 400 ($3). 

Now, Rachael’s life has changed. Her children now enjoy three meals a day, with nutritious foods such as rice, chapati (an unleavened flatbread commonly eaten in East Africa), and meat once a week. They are healthier, less sickly, and can attend school without interruption.  

“Before, we only ate maize-based meals, and I had no confidence. Now I feel good about my life and thank God,” she says. 

Her husband also supports her business, though he continues casual labour. But Rachael’s courage, discipline, and vision drive the family forward. She dreams of expanding her shop and kibanda, adding more goods, selling plastic bins, growing her poultry farm, and buying more cows. 
 
This is the story of Rachael, a fearful mother who once doubted herself who is now a confident entrepreneur. It only proves that when women are empowered and equipped with the right tools, they can silence fears, unlock economic opportunities, and create lasting change for their families. 

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