Alayisi
2025
Just three months after developing an obstetric fistula, Alayisi received life-changing surgery. Since, 35-year-old Alayisi has transformed her life and the lives of her three children.
Following treatment at our Fistula Care Centre in Malawi, Alayisi joined our income generation program, which equips former patients with a sewing machine, materials and the support they need to launch a tailoring business.
During our June 2025 monitoring visit, we caught up with Alayisi to see how she was doing both medically and in business and the results are extraordinary.
Since launching her business, Alayisi has earned over MK 528,000, which she’s used to:
- Pay school fees for her three children MK 18,000
- Purchase three bags of maize MK 180,000
- Buy fertilizer MK 130,000
- Invest in bean seeds MK 120,000, already planted and ready to harvest in September
- Cover household essentials MK 30,000
- Save MK 50,000 in her village bank
Alayisi earns most of her income from making and selling clothes, pads, school uniforms and bags. On a good day, she can make up to MK 20,000 and on a quieter day, about MK 9,000 depending on the season.
Since her husband left, Alayisi has raised her three children alone. Today, she describes herself as a happy, independent woman. Her family now eats three meals a day, her children are back in school and she has returned to farming – growing and selling beans and rice.
What’s more, during our visit, Alayisi identified another woman living with fistula and helped connect her with the fistula clinician in Nkhotakota – showing how former patients are becoming advocates and lifelines for others.
Looking ahead, Alayisi hopes to expand her business to sell wrappers (chitenje cloth) and eventually build a larger, safer home with bricks and an iron sheet roof.
Alayisi is not just rebuilding her life – she’s helping others rebuild theirs too.
