Wahimi Hassan grew up like any other girl with dreams—dreams of becoming someone who could change her family and community. She worked hard from her earliest days in primary school until her final year at Kamuzu Palace Secondary School in Lilongwe. Her future seemed bright. With good exam results, college was the next step. But life had other plans.

The roadblock was devastating: her family couldn’t afford the school fees. “I had my whole life ahead of me,” Wahimi recalls, “but we didn’t have the money. I had to watch my dreams slip away.”

As the eldest of four children, Wahimi’s life in Kauma, Lilongwe, was filled with challenges. Her father struggled to provide for the family, and necessities; like soap, food, or shoes were often out of reach. “There were days when I felt ashamed even to leave the house barefooted,” Wahimi says, “I used to envy my friends whose parents could afford to give them everything they needed.”

Despite these hardships, Wahimi’s dreams burned bright. She believed that if she worked hard enough in school, she could break the cycle of poverty and lift her family out of their struggles. “I kept telling myself, one-day things will change, one day I will be able to help myself and my siblings,” she shares.

Her mother, who ran a small business at the local market, did her best to support the family. But despite all her efforts, raising enough money for college was impossible. Wahimi was stuck. “It was painful,” she admits, “watching my friends move forward; some went to college, others found opportunities that changed their lives. And I was just there, unsure of my future.”

To make ends meet, Wahimi tried running a small business, but without the proper skills or guidance, her ventures never took off. “I felt like a failure,” she confesses, “I thought maybe I wasn’t meant for anything more in life.”

Despair set in, and she thought she couldn’t do anything. But even then, the questions never left her mind: Is this the life I’m destined for? Is there nothing more?

Then one morning in 2023, everything changed. She heard about Tingathe’s vocational training program, which offered various courses, including Tailoring and Fashion Design. “It was like a light at the end of a very dark tunnel,” Wahimi recalls, smiling. “Growing up, I loved fashion; my mom’s second-hand clothes were always a source of inspiration.”

With the help of a scholarship that Tingathe offered through its partners like the Segal Family Foundation and Imago Dei Foundation, Wahimi enrolled in the Tailoring and Fashion Design course. She worked hard and graduated. “It was a moment I will never forget,” she says. “For the first time in a long time, I felt hope and told myself that Tingathe has played its part. They have provided me with a hook I can use to catch money.”

After graduation, she asked her husband for help, and together, they bought a sewing machine. She opened her shop and, as the business grew, managed to purchase two more machines, hiring two young men from her community to help her. Some factors that contributed to the growth of Wahimi’s fashion business include her location, personalized customer service, quality products, and adapting to customer preferences—skills she acquired at Tingathe.

“When I walk into my shop now, I feel proud,” Wahimi beams. “I’m not just supporting myself; I’m helping others by providing jobs. It’s a dream come true.”

Her change is undeniable. When we visited her shop, Wahimi’s joy was infectious. She welcomed us warmly, with confidence that spoke volumes. “Everything is possible when you have the right support and put your heart into it,” she says.

What makes her happiest? The irony is that some of her former classmates; those who went to college while she stayed behind now come to her shop for custom-made clothes. “It’s a beautiful feeling,” Wahimi says. “To know that I’m part of my community’s story, making them feel beautiful.”

Now, Wahimi’s dreams have grown even bigger. She is planning to open another shop and employ more young people from her community. “I also want to buy land and build my own house one day,” she says, her eyes sparkling with possibility.

At Tingathe, stories like Wahimi’s remind us why we do what we do. We are driven by the belief that no matter the obstacles, the vulnerable can transition out of poverty, build resilience, and thrive. Wahimi’s story is proof of that. And it is only just beginning.