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Rebuilding after the storm: The case of Aisha Twaya.

Machinga, Malawi: Aisha Twaya, a 25-year-old married woman with one child, resides in Group Village Headman Likhonyowa under Traditional Authority Mchinguza in Machinga district. Like many households in her community, Aisha's main livelihood revolves around cultivating rice in the wetlands along Lake Chilwa.

Aisha vividly remembers March 12th to March 15th, 2023 as the most challenging period of her life. Tropical Cyclone Freddy triggered severe flooding around Lake Chilwa, submerging the adjacent rice fields, including Aisha's own.

"Rice farming and vending are my main sources of livelihood," narrates Aisha. "I cultivate the rice and sell it once harvested. After selling the rice, I reinvest the money back into farming. Additionally, I lend money to other farmers, who repay me with bags of rice equivalent to the amount borrowed when they harvest." narrates Aisha

The devastation of the storm stripped Aisha of all her investments, leaving her with nothing. The farmers who had borrowed money from her to repay with bags of rice were equally affected, with some now living in camps. This unforeseen circumstance forced Aisha to come to terms with the loss of all her investments.

Aisha, looking visibly distressed, recounted, "All 13 plots that I had cultivated were submerged with just a month left before harvest. The whole situation felt surreal to me; I couldn't believe it. I spent nearly a week in tears, overwhelmed by desperation. It was a significant investment."

Amidst the despair, a ray of hope emerged through the Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD). With funding from Irish Aid, facilitated by Trocaire, CARD launched the 'Tropical Cyclone Freddy Response' project in Machinga from August to October 2023. This initiative aimed to support businesswomen affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy with start-up capital to recover from the storm's devastation.

Through this project, Aisha and 49 other women received a vital lifeline—an opportunity to rebuild their businesses. Each entrepreneur was granted K200,000.00 in start-up capital, symbolizing a beacon of opportunity amidst the cyclone's aftermath.

For Aisha, this support meant more than just financial assistance; it was a lifeline. Fueled by determination and resilience, she embarked on a new journey. Rather than succumbing to despair, she chose to seize control of her destiny, determined to forge ahead.

Empowered by the funds, Aisha strategically invested in a tailoring machine—a decision inspired by her determination to pivot from rice farming after the loss of her fields. With skilled hands and unwavering dedication, Aisha turned fabric into garments, stitching her way toward a brighter future.

Aisha has reinvested the profits from her tailoring venture back into her passion: rice farming. Buoyed by newfound resilience and financial stability, she anticipates a yield of 20 bags of rice from the two plots she started this year, a testament to her unwavering spirit and enduring hope.

Currently, Aisha's tailoring business generates over K30,000.00 in monthly earnings. With eyes set on growth, she envisions expanding both her tailoring business and rice farming, aiming to regain her previous financial standing.

"With this machine and the rice I will harvest, I hope to cultivate over 8 plots in the upcoming growing season," Aisha expressed optimistically.

Reflecting on her journey, Aisha expressed deep gratitude to Irish Aid and Trocaire, acknowledging that their support not only transformed her life but also rewrote her destiny, turning despair into determination and adversity into opportunity.

"I am immensely grateful for the support. From March to October 2023, we lost hope of rebuilding after the storm. Thank you so much to CARD, Irish Aid and Trocaire for standing with us during that challenging period. May God bless you," Aisha concluded with a smile