Esther Muthiora’s Story of Change

Before I connected with Mazingira Institute in 2024, I had recently gone through a divorce and returned home with my children. I started farming as a way to support myself, but one of my biggest challenges was finding a market for my vegetables. Many of my neighbours were also farming and selling similar produce, which made it difficult to earn a steady income.

My sister had previously received training from Mazingira Institute, and she introduced me to the organization. Through the training, I learned about marketing and how I could better sell what I was producing. It helped me realize that selling vegetables from home was limiting my opportunities and that I needed to find a better location where I could reach more customers. I wanted to take the marketing skills I had learned and put them into practice, so I decided to start a grocery business and began sourcing produce from a nearby market.

Since starting my business, I have become more independent. I no longer have to depend on my mom or ask her for money. I can pay my rent, cover my children’s school fees, and support my family with the income I earn. As the business has grown, I have even been able to employ another young woman to help serve customers and prepare vegetables.

For the future, I hope to encourage other young mothers like me, as well as others in my community, to consider starting a business of their own. Some people think running a grocery business is too difficult, but I have learned that it can provide a good source of income and create new opportunities.

I also hope I can use my experience to help others. If someone needs advice, they can always come to me.