After the training, we began seeing this actually works. Now people have food in their homes, and money is trickling into their pockets.
Angela Chiyala’s days in rural southern Zambia begin at dawn. She divides her time between farming, caring for her five girls, her husband, and sewing clothes. Her garden takes up a lot of her time and attention, and it thrives with cabbage, tomatoes, onions, corn, sunflower and cowpeas – a source of food and income. Community members from all ages and genders stop by throughout the day, seeking her guidance and learning from her experience.
Chiyala remembers a time when hunger was constant in her home in Namwala district.
In the past... there was no money, no water; we would just look up at the sky hoping for rain.— Angela Chiyala
Her life began to transform when she joined the local Farmer Field School (FFS), one of over 30 supported through Oxfam’s Agriculture and Food Systems. The initiative partners with Nutri Aid Trust (NAT) and Women for Change to support farmers in adapting to and withstanding climate change, while advancing women’s leadership.
Through this program, Chiyala learned skills that changed how she saw herself and what she could achieve.
Chiyala was one of 58 Farmer Field School Committee members from 25 schools who came together for intensive training designed to equip women with confidence, knowledge, and leadership skills to participate in community decision-making and to promote gender equality.
Through this program, Chiyala learned skills that changed how she saw herself and what she could achieve.
Chiyala was one of 58 Farmer Field School Committee members from 25 schools who came together for intensive training designed to equip women with confidence, knowledge, and leadership skills to participate in community decision-making and to promote gender equality.
Participants also gained practical training in climate-smart agriculture—including soil, improved crop and field management—together with skills to help prevent violence against women, how to build up their savings, and entrepreneurship. These combined capacities are helping women build stronger, sustainable livelihoods, improve resilience to climate change and economic hardship, and ensure women’s voices are heard in shaping the future of their communities.
Becoming a confident leader
Before joining Women for Change’s training in mid 2023, Chiyala never imagined herself as a leader. But as she gained experience, she became more confident and active. Almost a year later, her community elected her as vice chair of the Farmer Field School. “I was selected by the people in my group. I asked them to respect me, and that’s how I began working with them,” she recalls. Today, Chiyala, 38, leads a group of 40 people—23 men and 17 women—spanning both youth and elders.
Taking on this role has not been without its challenges. “Telling someone’s husband what to do is tricky. Even telling a headman to come and work—it’s not easy,” she says. Her age and gender led to resistance, sometimes even from other women in the group. “There’s a lack of respect for me because I’m young. And there’s also jealousy from some of the ladies.” But rather than backing away, Chiyala leaned in. She turned to her mentors at Oxfam and Women for Change.
“They strengthened me. They brought a register to keep track of work, and the group started to take things seriously.” “One of the things that has strengthened me is what I’ve learned through Women for Change. Through Oxfam, I’ve learned a lot of things from the garden.”
Taking on this role has not been without its challenges. “Telling someone’s husband what to do is tricky. Even telling a headman to come and work—it’s not easy,” she says. Her age and gender led to resistance, sometimes even from other women in the group. “There’s a lack of respect for me because I’m young. And there’s also jealousy from some of the ladies.” But rather than backing away, Chiyala leaned in. She turned to her mentors at Oxfam and Women for Change.
“They strengthened me. They brought a register to keep track of work, and the group started to take things seriously.” “One of the things that has strengthened me is what I’ve learned through Women for Change. Through Oxfam, I’ve learned a lot of things from the garden.”
Supporting future leaders
Chiyala is now passing on what she learned to the future generations, especially young women in the community.
After teaching them what we learned from Oxfam, they started seeing that what we are teaching actually works.— Angela Chiyala
Oxfam trainings, delivered in partnership with local organizations, have changed more than just farming practices and food security. They are also shifting household dynamics and traditionally held mental models by empowering women and girls in rural communities. Chiyala remarks that collaboration between men and women is now more common.
Before, we never used to work together with men. Now we do,” Chiyala says. “When it’s time for the garden, the man gets the spray, I carry the bucket—we go together.
The Farmer Field School has become a source of strength and mutual support, where people can meet, learn and share responsibility. “We remind each other every day of how things are going,” Chyala explains. “This has brought change to people’s lives. They now understand that in life, woman deserve the opportunity and the chance to work.”
The Farmer Field School has become a source of strength and mutual support, where people can meet, learn and share responsibility. “We remind each other every day of how things are going,” Chyala explains. “This has brought change to people’s lives. They now understand that in life, woman deserve the opportunity and the chance to work.”
Improvements in farming and confidence have also led Chiyala to other changes at home. She never thought she could afford a sewing machine. But now, after returning from the garden, she sits at her sewing table at a sewing machine, making uniforms for her children and clothes for her family. “I don’t buy them anymore; I make them myself.” What once was seen as an expense is now a skill that saves money and time. “That old way of thinking, that I don’t have enough, is gone,” she says.
Chiyala also sees economic independence as key for women in her community and believes in planning for long-term changes. She envisions a future where women are self-reliant and active in economic and leadership roles. “I want everyone to be busy—not wasting time. Even when I leave this position, they should still have something.”
Her group is working to surpass their past achievements, increase their savings, and invest in tools that can generate more income. “We want to bypass the mark of ZMW 5000 and buy a machine that presses cooking oil. We want to raise chickens, increase our savings.”
She points to the solar panels, water tanks, and smart agriculture training that have allowed families to withstand recent drought across Zambia.
This year, there was hunger – but we farmed cowpeas, ...and people can provide for their children and homes. Had it not been for Oxfam, many of us wouldn’t have known what to do.— Angela Chiyala
