Friends of Usambara has selected a group of 5 women in Tanzania for whom a small basic income can make a difference in their life. The women are all involved in the tree planting projects of Friends of Usambara. The women are free to decide how they want to spend the extra income. The participants received 10.000 GoodDollars (G$) per day each. That is about one U.S. dollar per day.
Project results
Over the past three months, the small basic income has made a meaningful difference in the daily lives of the participants in Tanzania. The contributions have helped sustain small-scale economic activities and ease financial pressure.
Several participants have used the support to strengthen their micro-businesses. Agness Maro and Monika Antoni have been able to maintain and slightly expand their small trading activities by adding stock and managing daily expenses. Similarly, Hanifa Zuberi has used the funds to support her food vending business, helping her cover ingredient costs and reduce day-to-day financial stress.
Others have applied the support in flexible and practical ways. Fatuma Twaha has combined small savings with household spending, providing a buffer during more difficult periods. Fatuma Issa has used the funds to purchase basic tailoring materials, allowing her to continue working despite limited capital.
Across all participants, the feedback is consistent: though small, the support creates stability, sustains income-generating activities, and provides reassurance in uncertain circumstances. The beneficiaries appreciate the support and highlight its positive impact on both their livelihoods and well-being.
Group participants
My name is Monika Antoni. I am 36 years old. I have one child. I will use it to support my child’s education and business. My work is tree gardening here in Usambara, and by combining it with my income, it will help me progress economically.
My name is Fatuma Issa Masanyika. I have two children — the eldest is 20 years old and the youngest is 6. I work at the tree nursery. I plan to combine the income I earn with other sources so that I can provide my children with a better education and continue to improve my financial situation.
My name is Fatuma Twaha Masanyika. I am a mother of three children — the eldest is 19, the second is 14, and the youngest is 8. I work at the tree nursery, and I plan to use my earnings together with other sources of income to ensure my children receive a good education and to keep improving my family’s livelihood.
My name is Hanifa Zuberi Hozza. I have two children — the older one is 15 years old and the younger one is 5. I work on the tree nursery. The income I earn, I will add to other sources so I can educate my children to get a good education and also continue to increase my income.
My name is Agness Maro. I have one daughter and 6 grandchildren, aged 15, 13, 10, 8, and 3. It is just me and my daughter we are the sole breadwinners for our family. I work at the tree nursery. I will use the extra income on the school expenses for my grand children and some for rent and food.
