Juliana Chatipwa from Biza Village, Traditional Authority Mwadzama, is a symbol of strength and resilience. At just 31 years old, she has weathered storms that could have broken many—but today, she stands proud as an independent woman, a mother of eight, and a thriving farmer.
Married at the tender age of 16 in 1999, Juliana’s marriage was marred by hardship and abandonment. In 2017, just after a successful groundnut harvest of 55 bags, her husband disappeared—leaving her and the children behind without explanation. “He just left home to sell the groundnuts and never returned until the year ended,” Juliana recalls. “I waited for four years. I was patient, but I had no peace.”
Even after he reappeared and reconciliation was attempted, life never returned to normal. Her husband had married up to ten other women, and the family’s income was stretched beyond survival. "Each time we harvested, it only brought more challenges," she says. "The money was like glue connecting him to his other wives, not for our children."
In search of peace and independence, Juliana made the courageous decision to return to her home village—despite not having a house or stable income. She survived on piecework (wages) until she saved enough to build a modest home. From there, she turned to what she knew best: the land.
With one acre allocated to her, Juliana began practicing crop rotation—maize, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and even rice from her orchard. She ensured her field was always productive, replacing each harvest with a new crop.
Today, Juliana is a fully-fledged crop and livestock farmer. With support from a Village Savings and Loan (VSL) group - Mwadzama women forum established under women voice for peace project which is being implemented by Umunthu Plus with financial support from Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund-WPHF through UNWomen Malawi , she has expanded into livestock, buying goats and chickens. Her tomato farming has become a local success—drawing buyers from far and wide.
“With the forums, I learned that I don’t have to stay in silence. I have a future, and I’m building it with my hands."
Juliana’s next goal is to investin sugarcane farming and to see her children become self reliant.
As an active forum member, Juliana facilitates dialogue among women in her village, helping others resolve domestic disputes peacefully, encouraging survivors of gender-based violence to speak out, and mentoring young women to pursue independence.
