Naini Edward is a pastoralist from Partimbo Village in Kiteto District, Manyara Region. In 2024, she joined the Namayana group after a community mobilization meeting where she listened to Ms. Rachel Mbuky, a farmers' facilitator trained by SAT. Joining the group marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life, providing opportunities to strengthen her livelihood, build financial independence, and actively participate in community development.

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Reflecting on the situation before SAT's intervention, Naini explains that women in her pastoralist community had limited opportunities to engage in training and income-generating activities. Cultural norms largely confined women to household responsibilities, while decisions on finances and economic investments were dominated by men, leaving many women economically dependent.

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SAT introduced community awareness sessions emphasizing the importance of involving both women and men in sustainable livelihood activities. Facilitators selected from both farming and pastoralist communities in Kiteto District were trained to mobilize, form, and train groups within their own communities. Through these engagements, women began organizing into groups where they received training on agroecological practices, livestock management, and savings and lending, and took part in productive activities such as crop farming, pasture production, and animal health management.

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As a member of the Namayana Group, Naini began participating in savings and lending activities and successfully obtained a loan of 700,000/=, which she invested in cultivating five acres of maize (harvested 75 bags of maize) and one acre of sunflower (harvested 5 bags of seven buckets of 20kgs). The investment strengthened her household's food security while creating an additional source of income. She also began practicing livestock fattening for healthier livestock.

Beyond the financial benefits, Naini has witnessed a broader transformation in her community, with women more actively involved in economic activities and men increasingly recognizing and supporting their contribution to family welfare and community development.

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