Rabecca lives in rural Zambia with her three youngest children. Together with her husband, she did odd jobs for money. But it was barely enough to get by. 

“Before ADRA came, I was going through a lot of difficulties,” says Rabecca. “To find food, I did piecework in other people’s fields. Sometimes I was paid in the form of food crops such as sugarcane. 

“The biggest difficulties were taking my children to school and affording meals. We used to eat two times a day and I could not afford uniforms, school shoes, and school fees.” 

This filled Rabecca with guilt. 

“I did not manage to send three of my six children to school because I could not afford the school requirements,” she says. “I felt very bad because education is important. When children are educated, they get good jobs.” 

When ADRA came to her community, Rabecca was excited to be selected to participate in the FARMS II project, which is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). Through the project, Rabecca received hands-on training in climate-smart farming, as well as marketing techniques to help ensure she sold her crops at the market for the best price possible. Rabecca was placed in a group of women who decided to grow tomatoes, onions, okra, and rapeseed.

With the profits from selling her vegetables, Rabecca bought a goat. 

“I bought one goat. My neighbour also had a goat and together, they multiplied,” Rabecca says. 

Rabecca’s goat farm increased until she had fifteen goats! But as hardships came her way, Rabecca sold her goats to cover emergencies and essential bills. 

“My children started getting sick, and through selling goats, I was able to take my children for medical attention at the hospital and pay for medical bills,” says Rabecca. 

The most trying time of all was when, a few months ago, Rabecca’s husband died in a road accident. 

“When I lost my husband, I sold goats to support the funeral process,” Rabecca says. 

Now, Rabecca has eight goats, down from fifteen. The sudden death of her husband and the recent drought in Zambia stretched Rabecca. But throughout it all, Rabecca has maintained her own home garden, thanks to her drought-resilient crops and the farming techniques she learnt. 

“The recent drought really affected us, but because of the gardening activities and the goats, it really helped me pull through,” Rabecca says. “Every time I am in need, I sell goats to buy what I need. It is through selling goats that I am sending my children to school and accessing medical supplies. What I earned from the garden, I also used to buy food for the family. Now we eat three times a day.” 

Rabecca is slowly adjusting to life without her husband. The responsibility of providing for her three youngest children and sending them to school is now hers alone. 

“The death of my husband has been difficult,” Rabecca says. “When he was around, we could work together to provide for the family, but now I am working alone. It is hard.” 

Looking to the future, Rabecca’s dream for her children is that they finish school. 

“I want my children, who are currently in school, to finish their education.” 

Rabecca’s son David* has a talent for mathematics and is hoping for steady employment when he graduates. 

“I am in grade 7. When I finish school, I want to work in a bank,” David says.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Rabecca is confident that with the skills she has acquired from ADRA, her future is bright. 

“Looking at the life we lived before the project, it was hard and is painful to think about,” she says. “But with the knowledge I have gained in ADRA, I work with confidence, and every time I think about it, it warms my heart. 

“I am so thankful that what you are doing is helping us achieve more. Please do not stop helping. I would like others to benefit like I have benefited. Thank you.”

Your gift this End of Financial Year can help mothers feed their children and send them to school. Donate today at adra.org.au/EOFY.

* Name changed for child protection purposes