In the village of Nzvimbe, 55-year-old Mugove Machokoto was used to being a "case study" for local rumours.
Born with a physical disability, Mugove has navigated mobility challenges his whole life. In his community, disability was often misunderstood; some neighbours wrongly associated his condition with witchcraft, and many doubted his abilities. Even his marriage eventually buckled under the pressure of these hardships. He now lives with his sister and her four children.
Despite completing vocational training in farming and carpentry in the late 1990s, Mugove struggled to convert those skills into an income for 25 years. With employment opportunities rarely offered to him, he depended mainly on social grants which were inconsistent and insufficient. He was a man with a trade, but he lacked the support to use it.
When our partner Nzeve’s “Our Hands Together” project arrived in Nzvimbe in 2024, Mugove was among the first to attend. But he wasn't looking for a workshop; he was looking for immediate relief.
"I was shocked and disappointed," Mugove says with characteristic honesty. "Nzeve was not committed to giving us handouts. Instead, they focused on training us."
Mugove chose to stay. He attended training in value addition, advocacy, and safeguarding. Recognising his skills and willingness to learn, project staff supported him in boosting a poultry project by providing feed and practical training in broiler production.
Mugove took that initial disappointment and turned it into a business plan. Last season, he produced maize and groundnuts for both his household and for chicken feed, protecting his business from rising costs. Using the proceeds from the poultry, he opened a small tuckshop that supplies his neighbours with household essentials.
Today, Mugove’s income has grown to an average of $250 per month—a shift that has moved his household from food insecurity to stability. He is now an active member of an Internal Savings and Loans (ISAL) group, contributing $20 a month to a system that supports him and other people with disabilities.
Mugove is no longer fully dependent on social grants. He didn't need to be "saved"; he simply needed his community to stop doubting that he was ready to lead his own way out of poverty.
Life is not a straight line. For people living in poverty, one setback can easily undo the progress that has been made. That’s why our partners work with the community for the long haul, supporting them as they work to lift themselves out of poverty.
Long-term change takes long-term commitment, and we’re grateful for your partnership with us.
Related projects have received support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
