Throughout the world, it is common to see mothers who sacrifice for their families. Many of TechnoServe’s clients exemplify the heroism of motherhood by working harder than most to build farms and businesses that put food on the table and completely transform the future of the next generation.
Celebrate Moms who give their children an empowered future.
Mothers truly do it all. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we want to introduce you to three clients who balance family needs with demanding work responsibilities to give their children the greatest gift they can receive: a brighter future. Their daughters share why their mothers’ strength and perseverance have been an inspiration to them.
A Mother’s Gift of Support: A Mother and Daughter Team Thrives
“My mother has always been a mirror for me. I admire her strength and dedication in the field. When I lost my husband, I returned home, where my mother welcomed me and my four children with great affection.”
-Naume Johan, Mozambique
Naume (left) and Anita (right) stand with Naume’s children in their field. The mother and daughter are working as a team to give Naume’s children the gift of education. (TechnoServe / Flavia Gumende)
Naume Johan lost everything when her husband passed away a year and a half ago. Without a way to earn a living, she returned to live with her mother, Anita Bandira, who is also a widow. She joined her mother’s farm in the Barue district of Mozambique, where Anita has farmed for 30 years. Anita taught Naume to grow vegetables and raise chickens and the mother and daughter became business partners. Now Naume handles the accounting and sales and Anita specializes in production techniques. Naume admires how her mother has always worked tirelessly for her family and continues to do so.
Anita is a mother working hard to give a brighter future to her daughter and grandchildren. (TechnoServe / Flavia Gumende)The mother and daughter work together in their corn fields. (TechnoServe / Flavia Gumende)
Now both mothers are focused on providing opportunities for Naume’s four children, who range in age from one to 18. The profits from their production help them buy food for the family and pay for their education.
Naume wants to give her children a brighter future. Here, her son, Antonio, helps in the field. (TechnoServe / Flavia Gumende)
With the help of TechnoServe’s Mangwana Program, they adopted new farming techniques that increased their yields, allowing them the extra income to diversify their crops. In the future, the pair of producers says they want to increase their production area, look for more markets, and increase the number of workers.
A Mother’s Gift of Determination: Masego’s Legacy
“[My mother’s] headstrongness and determination to rise above any situation whatsoever is really what makes her literally the best mom ever. She shows every day that you can do anything and be anything in life if you just put your mind to it.” – One Diana Swapo, Botswana
Masego Swapo shows a sample product in her office. The mother is working to give a resilient future for her daughters. (Photo courtesy of Masego Swapo)
One Diana Swapo, a 20-year-old from Botswana, has watched her mother, Masego Vuyiswa Swapo, face all odds to build a successful bespoke woodworking business. Masego has been an entrepreneur for over 10 years, driven by a vision to build a strong brand in a sector where fewer opportunities are available to women.
Masego’s daughter, One Diana, helps run a booth at an industry fair. (Photo courtesy of Masego Swapo)
Since starting her business, Masego has achieved a stable income for her family, paid for her daughters’ education, and started a side business. After working with TechnoServe’s Tokafala entrepreneurship program, she gained a wider reach across Botswana and connected with many other stakeholders in Botswana’s woodworking sector. Now Masego has masterminded the upcoming 2025 Annual Botswana African Wood Summit, a platform for industry players to exchange ideas and expertise and contribute to policy discussions related to environmental conservation.
Masego’s youngest daughter, Aleyo, wants to be just like her mother when she grows up. (Photo courtesy of Masego Swapo)
Masego sets a strong example for her daughters by involving them in her day-to-day work. Since their home doubles as an office, One Diana and her 7-year-old sister, Aleyo Daniella Lokwalo, have had the opportunity to see their mother in action, even helping with her projects and learning the finances of the business. One Diana explained that the increase in business has changed their family dynamic, saying, “All in all, since we started the business, we have all grown individually but most of all closer as a family.”
Though Masego’s greatest challenge is time management, her daughters are her most important priority. She explained,
“Running a business is demanding, and being a present mother is non-negotiable for me. Juggling both means sacrifice and long nights, but it’s worth it. I want my daughters to know that they can achieve anything in life and that being an entrepreneur is the best thing to do. I want to create a legacy that inspires them to dream boldly and live fearlessly.” -Masego Vuyiswa Swapo
A Mother’s Gift of Opportunity: Nayiga’s Vision for Her Children
“My mother is my greatest inspiration. She works tirelessly, creatively providing for us, and ensuring our education and well-being. I admire her dedication and resilience, and I am sure that is why other market vendors trusted her with the position and responsibilities of a chairperson of the Nabitalo Market Vendor Association.” – Amina Nambaga, Uganda
Amina Nambaga, an 18-year-old student from Uganda, attributes her bright future to the sacrifices made by her mother, Nayiga Sifa. A single parent to five children ranging in age from five to 18, Nayiga has devoted herself to balancing her business with motherhood, while also caring for her parents. Despite the pressures of her daily routine, Nayiga has expanded her food business to two large vendor stalls, increasing her sales and revenue.
Nayiga meticulously sorts, grade and cleans onions delivered to her food stall. (TechnoServe / Zamu Nabisubi)
She has also started a processed juice business to add value to her food stalls. Nayiga is training her children in the juice business, giving them the opportunity to develop business skills. Her greatest desire is to see all of her children graduate from university and build careers of their own.
Sifa’s daughter, Amina, arranges the fruits and vegetables at her mother’s food stall. (TechnoServe / Zamu Nabisubi)
After seeing her business grow through TechnoServe’s NU-HortiMap project, Nayiga is a huge champion of empowering others through education and advises fellow vendors to join the program. She is also creating business opportunities for other vendors in her community. Nayiga is chairperson for the Nabitalo Market vendor group and has helped form another vendor cooperative, encouraging fellow community members to work together toward collective growth. She explained the importance of working together to uplift the community, saying,
“Empowering women and youth in markets made us great people who are important to our communities. This has enabled me to thrive and give back to my community.” -Nayiga Sifa
Giving Recognition to Mothers
This Mother’s Day, we celebrate mothers like Anita, Masego, and Nayiga, who are admired by their children and respected by their communities for the hard work and care they pour into others. Their stories remind us that mothers are often the cornerstones of their families and communities, inspiring us with their fierce determination to build lasting prosperity.
Bethany Downie is a senior communications specialist at TechnoServe. She joined TechnoServe in 2021 after completing her MA in International Business and Intercultural Communication from Oxford Brookes University. Over her career, Bethany has worked for a translation and localization company in Beijing, China, coordinated international student exchange programs in the U.S., and worked as a writer in the UK offices of an international nonprofit. Bethany enjoys using storytelling to connect people from different cultures and communities. In her free time, you can find her sipping a cup of tea while hunting for cheap plane tickets to faraway places.
