Friends of Usambara has selected a third group of five women in Tanzania for whom a small basic income can make a meaningful difference. Each participant received one dollar per day, sent directly to her phone via mobile money. The women were free to decide how to use this additional income.
Project results
Over the past four months, the small basic income has made a meaningful difference in the daily lives of the participants. Each woman chose a different way to use the support she received, whether contributing to family needs, investing in a business, or opening a small shop. In each case, the income helped her care for her family and work towards greater financial stability.
Maria used the support to help her family. Her contribution helped meet household needs and gave her a way to share in supporting the household.
Amina used the support to join a potato business with other farmers. She did not have enough capital to start a business on her own, so she agreed with the group to grow potatoes and sell them to villagers and small vendors. This gave her the opportunity to invest in an income-generating activity while continuing to support her family.
Neema used the money to open a small kiosk in her village, creating a new source of income to help support her family. The shop enables her to earn money and contribute to household needs.
Khadija used it to support her family by contributing towards household expenses. The support helped her share the responsibility of caring for her family.
Shakira used the money to open a small shop in her village, where she sells goods to local residents. The shop has created a source of income that helps her support her family.
Across all participants, the feedback is consistent: although each woman made different choices, they share the common purpose of supporting their families and building greater financial security.
Third group participants
Amina is a single mother of one child who depends on small-scale farming to support her family. Life has not been easy, but she remains strong and committed to giving her child a better future. The basic income helps her improve her income and provide basic needs for her family.
Neema is raising her child on her own while working as a local vendor. Despite the challenges, she works hard every day to make ends meet. With the basic income she hopes to grow her small business and create a more stable life for her family.
Khadija is a single mother who survives through casual jobs in her community. She is determined to ensure her child has access to food, education, and care. The basic income will help her start a small income-generating activity to sustain her household.
Shakira is a dedicated single mother raising her child with love and resilience. She currently relies on small daily earnings that are often not enough. With the basic income she plans to expand her source of income and better support her family’s well being.
Maria is a hardworking single mother of one who earns a living through farming. Unpredictable income makes it difficult to meet all her child’s needs. With support from the basic income, she aims to improve her farming and provide a better future for her family.
