Justice Kamanga – Case Study

Justice Kamanga lives in Malinka Village, TA Kanteada, Nkhotakota. He had one leg amputated due to an illness as a child. He is married with 5 children. Justice used to have an income of just 1,200 Malawi Kwacha per month (less than £2), from small scale subsistence farming. This income was supplemented by his brother, which was necessary for his family to be able to survive.

Justice was trained as a carpenter by MACOHA between 2013 and 2014. Since completing his training, Justice is now making 40,000 Malawi Kwacha (£60) per month as a carpenter in his village; a 3000% increase. He is now fully financially independent, and can support his family. He has been able to buy 10,000 bricks to build a new house, blankets and other house-hold goods. His confidence, and standing within his community is greatly increased.

“Life at my house has changed. I am now able to make my own money. My family is very happy. The community is very surprised – they thought I would be a beggar all my life. I don’t even know the percentage I can give for how happy I am.”

“In the community, previously people saw me as a failure, someone that was under their feet. Some are even now afraid that I am on top of them. Others have begun to come to me to beg for assistance with maize milling fees, the one they termed as the poorest.”