Name
Lydia Odera
Age
29
What Pangea Women’s Network Cooperative are you apart of?
Kinda Hope Women Group
Tell us about yourself
I was born in the year 1990 in Kano, a village in Kisumu County. My parents were rice farmers, as Kano is known for rice farming. I grew up with my seven siblings and schooled in Kano until I finished primary school. Due to a lack of school fees, I did not proceed to high school. I later on trained as a tailor and opened a tailoring business in the city where I got married and had 3 children. In 2008, I moved back to the village, unfortunately, my business did not prosper. I then started selling fresh fish in Homabay town.
What are you most proud of?
Meeting The Pangea Network in 2016 was a blessing for me. When I started selling fish in 2013, I lacked capital, so I sold fish and got paid on commission. After I received training from The Pangea Network, I got a loan and bought my own stock of fish. My life has greatly improved as I now rely on profit and not commission as before. I am able to pay for school expenses for my children and feed my family better. I can now buy simple things that I used to admire, but could not afford.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned with The Pangea Network?
With my little income, I used to spend haphazardly. The Pangea Network taught me the importance of planning and budgeting. With the increased income, I am cautious about how I spend money. I prioritize my needs and even keep some money aside as savings. I live a better life thanks to The Pangea Network.
