Asiyatu
2025
32-year-old Asiyatu lived with obstetric fistula for a year before receiving treatment at our Fistula Care Centre in Malawi. Since then, her life has changed dramatically.
Through our income generation programme – which equips former fistula patients with a sewing machine, materials and full support to launch their own tailoring businesses – Asiyatu has not only rebuilt her confidence, but her home.
We visited Asiyatu in June 2025 as part of our regular monitoring visit to check on her post-surgery recovery and progress in business. What we found was nothing short of inspiring.
Since starting her business, Asiyatu has earned MK 543,000, which he has used to:
- Buy maize worth MK 264,000 to feed her family
- Pay MK 18,000 in school fees for her children
- Spend MK 30,000 on household essentials
- Use the remaining income to build a home, where she now lives with her children
Her only cash on hand is MK 17,000 and her sewing machine now needs repairs – but Asiyatu’s spirit remains strong.
She earns most of her income from selling clothes, bags and reusable pads. On a good day, she can earn up to MK 50,000, but on quieter days, especially in tough seasons, she might make as little as MK 1,000.
Asiyatu has raised her three children alone since her husband left. Today, she says she’s financially stable – her family now eats three meals a day, her children are back in school and they have a safe roof over their heads.
Looking ahead, Asiyatu dreams of expanding her business to include buying maize in bulk to resell in her village. The land near her home is very sandy and infertile, making farming difficult, but with a new strategy and her tailoring income, she’s ready to adapt and thrive.
Asiyatu’s journey shows just how powerful a second chance can be.
