The Readers Blog is a group blog, a collection of provocative, passionate people who represent a broad geographical, professional, personal and vocational range. New bloggers from other places and other points of view will join the conversation from time to time. Here, we invite them all to share their perspectives and opinions on the issues that matter to them most. And we invite you to respond. Let the dialogue begin!
Rural Women Making a Difference in Their Communities (Part 2 of 3)
Last week I shared with you my story of Jane Kahima, a rural woman in Mbarara district in western Uganda, who found that she could use her midwifery skills to build her own home based domiciliary. Now I’d like to share the story of another woman who is setting an example of positive change in her community
Monica Muhozi, a home-base flower gardener, is also an example of how a rural housewife turned into a successful business owner.
Monica Muhozi – Home based Flower Gardening
When Monica got married, she found out that her husband Muhozi, loved flowers and her home had a small neat flower garden. Monica as part of her homestead duties looked after the flowers. Whenever there was a wedding or a funeral in her community, she would be called upon to supply flowers. Years later, with encouragement from her husband, Monica attended a basic horticulture course at a government farm institute in her district. With manure from the 2 family cows and 6 pigs, she expanded the garden and started growing flowers as a supplementary home income generating activity. Monica now supplies flowers to weddings and funeral functions in her village and neighboring districts, the local district administration offices, and gets orders from banks, churches and individuals. Monica is an inspiration and role model to women in her community and beyond. From a rural housewife with no skills or formal education, to a successful woman operating a flower business from her home and making a difference in her community.

Thank you for your interesting essays about women in Ghana. I teach a cross-cultural course in a college in Japan. I use some of the information you are posting so that my students can learn about the positive side of life in Africa. It is so far from their consumer-conscious lives that they see Africa as only jungles, animals and poverty. So, it is a relief for me to share your essays with them, opening their world a bit -- an ongoing effort.
I look forward to what you have to share in the future. (Anne Thomas -- Japan)
posted by Anne Thomas on 8/ 7/2007 12:54 am