Building a Better Future in Tanzania
October 7, 2025
Building a Better Future in Tanzania
October 7, 2025
Mary Matiku is a 63-year-old farmer and mother who lives in the Bukabwa Village in Tanzania. In 2009, Mary’s life took a devastating turn when her husband passed away, leaving her overwhelmed with grief and the daunting task of providing for her family. The mother of nine children then endured the heartbreaking loss of three of her children.
Life became an uphill battle for Mary as she struggled to meet her family’s basic needs. She relied on a small plot of land for farming, which yielded very few crops. Mary was especially concerned for her youngest son, Lucas, who was only 12 years old when his father passed away. Determined to secure a brighter future for him, Mary faced the challenge of affording school fees with her limited income.
Mary’s resilience led her to seek solutions to improve her family’s livelihood. In 2018, she attended a training session on conservation agriculture through World Renew and our local partner, the Africa Inland Church of Tanzania. Mary learned about sustainable farming techniques such as crop rotation, minimal soil disturbance, and soil cover. “Inspired by these methods, I decided to adopt them, even though the resources were scarce,” Mary shares.
Within a few seasons, Mary’s determination and hard work paid off. Her crop yields increased, and her small plot of land became healthier. Encouraged, Mary increased her farming area to two acres, and in 2022, she ventured into poultry rearing to earn even more income.
The combination of conservation agriculture and her poultry business transformed Mary’s financial situation. She saved enough money for a new house and was able to cover the costs for Lucas to complete his studies and earn a Bachelor of Arts. Lucas’s graduation marked an achievement in Mary’s journey, demonstrating the power of resilience and her commitment to building a better future.
Thanks to support from people like you, Mary and many others around the world are building better futures for their families through sustainable farming techniques. Click below to learn more about our food security programs.
Mary Matiku is a 63-year-old farmer and mother who lives in the Bukabwa Village in Tanzania. In 2009, Mary’s life took a devastating turn when her husband passed away, leaving her overwhelmed with grief and the daunting task of providing for her family. The mother of nine children then endured the heartbreaking loss of three of her children.
Life became an uphill battle for Mary as she struggled to meet her family’s basic needs. She relied on a small plot of land for farming, which yielded very few crops. Mary was especially concerned for her youngest son, Lucas, who was only 12 years old when his father passed away. Determined to secure a brighter future for him, Mary faced the challenge of affording school fees with her limited income.
Mary’s resilience led her to seek solutions to improve her family’s livelihood. In 2018, she attended a training session on conservation agriculture through World Renew and our local partner, the Africa Inland Church of Tanzania. Mary learned about sustainable farming techniques such as crop rotation, minimal soil disturbance, and soil cover. “Inspired by these methods, I decided to adopt them, even though the resources were scarce,” Mary shares.
Within a few seasons, Mary’s determination and hard work paid off. Her crop yields increased, and her small plot of land became healthier. Encouraged, Mary increased her farming area to two acres, and in 2022, she ventured into poultry rearing to earn even more income.
The combination of conservation agriculture and her poultry business transformed Mary’s financial situation. She saved enough money for a new house and was able to cover the costs for Lucas to complete his studies and earn a Bachelor of Arts. Lucas’s graduation marked an achievement in Mary’s journey, demonstrating the power of resilience and her commitment to building a better future.
Thanks to support from people like you, Mary and many others around the world are building better futures for their families through sustainable farming techniques. Click below to learn more about our food security programs.
