Elizabeth - Peanut Entrepreneur - Video Transcript

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[00:00] My name is Elizabeth. I’m from Malawi. A teacher by profession and an entrepreneur.

When I was 15 years old I almost dropped out from school, but CAMFED came in with full support. It was secondary and also at tertiary level.

And after secondary school completion, I joined [the] CAMFED Association. 

[00:20] I am a founder of  Ezel Agro-processors, we are making peanut butter and also coated peanuts. This business is really helping me because it has helped me to tap on new opportunities that are available for young women who are in agri-business. 

[00:37] I have been able to access financial support from CAMFED to boost up my business. For me to have a company, it wasn’t simple, but because of the support from CAMFED, now I am able to support myself, I can do everything for myself, and I can also help my siblings. I am able to deal with the demands and challenges in my everyday life.

And I also use my profits to support marginalized girls in my community. 

[01:05]  I consider myself as a role model in my community. When you are educated, you build confidence and you are able to make decisions that can support your personal growth, and also the growth of your community as well as the country as a whole.

I can stand and give out my ideas, innovative ideas, transformative ideas.

[01:26] I was able to mobilize my fellow girls to also know their value. I’ve been moving here and there in secondary schools and primary schools in my local community to tell them that they can do something, they can also achieve their goals, as I did as a young girl.