Ngara, TZ – Family business builds skills and economic growth – Jun 2025

The TMH family entrepreneurship drives a sustainable economic and social transformation. Starting with a modest business selling grains and running a small shop, he was able to generate steady income that allowed his wife RGB to pursue her passion for tailoring.

She began by learning sewing skills to provide tailoring services to her community. She rented a sewing machine at a cost of 30,000 TZS per month for five years. Through consistent savings with their local Vicoba group, the family was able to purchase their own sewing and embroidery machines for 850,000 shillings and invest an additional 280,000 shillings in fabric and materials.

Today, her tailoring business earns a monthly profit of around 150,000 shillings, with higher returns during festive seasons and back-to-school periods. Her small business has become not only a source of financial stability for the family but also a platform for empowerment and self-reliance. Looking ahead to the future, TMH and RGB aim to open a fabric and sewing supplies shop in town due to the service opportunities and demand. They committed to their business lifecycle, and growth security, they are continuing Vicoba savings and low-interest development loans and mentorship from partners like SODAT.

The family vision includes transforming the shop into a training hub for street youth offering hands-on experience in modern fashion tailoring and the production of reusable sanitary towels, not only for one household, but for the broader community.