Nursing wounds of Gender Based Violence – The Story of Aisha Abasi

Aisha Abasi is a survivor of GBV from TA Nkoola. she is divorced with 7 kids, and a survivor of economic violence. Before joining spotlight initiative VSL groups, she was in another village savings bank where she borrowed MWK30,000. “My husband asked me to borrow K30,000 from the village bank to use the money as capital for a family business. Soon after I borrowed the money, he left the house and married another woman”, she narrates.

She struggled on her own to pay for the loan and at the same time, feed the kids. She sold out all her livestock and most of her household utensils. The committee for spotlight initiative in her area saw the need for her to join. They approached and convinced her to join the initiative. Considering her present status then, the members of the VSL contributed some money for her first shares of the group. Little by little she started saving and managed to acquire her first loan which she used to start a small agro-business. Since that time she has been able to feed her family thrice a day and that her business increased from drastically. She plans to grow her business and to construct an iron-roofed house.

“I am very grateful to Spotlight Initiative for empowering women like us economically and encouraging the spirit of love among fellow ladies. I never thought my fellow women who are struggling to earn money can contribute some money for my personal use. For this, I promise to extend my hand to those in need and advocate against violence in my community and always be an active member of the VSL whether the project phases out or not. At least with the skills and knowledge that I have been impacted by the project, if I continue to use them, I will be able to do anything and be economically independent.” says Aisha Abasi

Spotlight Initiatitive is a program jointly funded by UN & EU that aims at eliminating violence against women and girls (EVAWG) through women economic empowerment (WEE) by facilitating access to financial resources including input and technical support for small business start ups.