Our Women

We care about the women of Mozambique.

By learning how to crochet, our women have an opportunity to improve their lives and empower those around them.

Tania

Tania was married at age 16. Now, she is 18 with her first child. Tania has a positive and encouraging perspective, despite her life of poverty. She is proud of being able to work and crochet, because few women have the opportunity to provide for their family in this way. Although Tania has not yet begun to make a steady income from crocheting, she hopes to be able to purchase items such as baskets, clothes, and food in the near future.

Ana

Ana grew up with 10 siblings, and never got the opportunity to go to school. At 37, she now has 9 children of her own and has been married since 2008. Her husband has been unemployed, and sometimes the family can go days without food. Since Ana just began working with Heleen, her family has been living without any source of income. Despite all of these challenges, Ana still maintains her strength, vitality, and spunky personality.

Elisa

Elisa began making capulana bags in February of 2018. As Elisa grows older, farming becomes difficult, but by working with Athiyana she can continue to care for her loved ones. Elisa uses the money from the bags for her grandchildren - buying them clothes and helping to provide them with basic necessities. Elisa says that making these bags has given her life purpose, as she is gaining something in return for her hard work.

Margarita

Soft spoken, but hardworking Margarita underwent a c-section in early May of 2018. She returned to work the very next week. Before moving into town, she said her marriage was very difficult because she and her husband were both jobless, however, now they are both employed. She thinks of life as full of surprises because, she would never have imagined she would learn to crochet, or that she and her husband would both be able to find jobs. Margarita has great aspirations as she wants to start her own pastry business with the money she is able to make working with Athiyana. Looking forward, she is thankful to still have a loving husband, three beautiful children, and is hopeful to see her children to succeed with their educations.

Kiteria

Kiteria is 27 years old and now has four children who are her pride and joy. Before Kiteria moved into town people would steal from her home often. Not only did people steal from her and her family, but Kiteria's home burned down, and they never could find out the cause of it. Kiteria's husband does not currently work, but they are able to farm which brings her family food, but just enough to survive. Despite the challenging years Kiteria has experienced, she always remains positive and looks at the bright side of every situation. She is excited to continue to work for Athiyana and bring more hope into her family.

Anabella has a very animated personality, and is friendly to everyone she encounters. Watching her kids play brings warmth to Anabella's heart. The same goes for working with Athiyana. She hopes that her children are able to go to school and has aspirations that they become doctors. Finishing school was challenging for Anabella, but her determination is what kept her going. Anabella believes that people are capable of learning things that may seem foreign, and then teaching others.