videohub.com

In the village of V. Battarahalli in Chikballapur District, Lakshmidevi, a 38-year-old graduate, lives with her mother and three daughters. She is a widow and works as a Kannada teacher. She and her mother jointly run a flour mill, care for three cattle, and engage in agriculture.

She learned about Buzz in June 2024 through an Anganwadi teacher. Passionate about learning, she participated in the Self-Shakti/financial literacy program.”When I learned about maintaining books of accounts, I realized I had never tracked my income properly. After keeping track, I discovered that I was earning a monthly income of Rs. 30,000,” she recalled.

In June 2024, immediately after the training, she began saving a minimum of Rs. 200 daily in her hundi (A cash box or money box kept at home.). By February 2025, she realized that the amount had grown to Rs. 55,000. In March 2025, she used this amount to retrieve her gold jewellery, which she had mortgaged to run the household and provide for her daughters’ education when she was unable to work for a year.”I didn’t realize how savings could change my financial situation until I started this practice,” Lakshmi admitted.

In September 2024 she enrolled in the Green Program, focusing on ecological initiatives. She sought to improve her knowledge further, saying, “I wanted to quench my thirst for knowledge and share it with my students.” Lakshmi’s interest in sustainability, particularly in agriculture, blossomed through the Green Program. She learned about critical topics such as water usage, soil types, and local produce cultivation. Inspired by these lessons, she implemented a kitchen garden at home in December 2024, planting chilies, okra, brinjal, and greens for her family’s consumption. This initiative allowed her to save about Rs. Rs.500 rupees weekly, significantly easing her household budget. “I used to spend a lot on vegetables, but now I grow them myself,” she explained proudly. Utilising household waste water—like the water used from washing rice and vegetables, water for mopping the house—and cow dung as manure has made her garden thriving and sustainable.

She also learned about the benefits of mixed cropping during the training. As part of the curriculum, the ‘Seeds Exchange Program’ was conducted in January 2025, where women exchanged seeds among themselves. Through this program, she received seeds for ridge gourd, bitter gourd, and various greens, which she then planted in her kitchen garden.

Lakshimi also coaches children in the village learning center (Kalike Kendra) earning Rs.200 per month. Lakshmi’s teaching role in her school and also at a local NGO allows her to promote eco-friendly practices among her students. She has integrated lessons on soil types, water conservation, and sustainable gardening into her curriculum. “I want to teach my students the importance of these practices at an early age so they cultivate a habit of caring for our planet,” she stated passionately.

Buzz Field Associate noted, “Whenever there’s a training program, Lakshmi makes it a point to attend, always eager to learn and apply what she can to her teachings.”She continues to encourage her students and fellow villagers to adopt similar habits for a better future. In the coming years, she plans to widen her impact by instilling sustainable practices within her community, ensuring that the lessons of today sow the seeds for a greener tomorrow.

Taking inspiration from her, the parents of school children have started kitchen gardens. The Buzz Field Associate shares that during her visits to the village, she now sees no waste littering the grounds or public spaces. Both children and their parents are actively working to keep their surroundings clean. Lakshmidevi is not just a teacher; she is a beacon of hope, teaching her children the importance of sustainability and the value of knowledge for a better life.

At Buzz Women, we often say that transformation happens when you walk alongside women, listen to their stories, sit in their circles, and feel the energy of learning shared. This spirit of connection recently came alive as we had the pleasure of hosting one of our key supporters, the Social Capital Foundation (SCF), for field visits across three of our operating countries: India, Tanzania, and Kenya. Their visit offered a firsthand look into the heart of our movement and the many ways women are stepping into their power.

In India, we journeyed together through the stages of transformation. From a group of women beginning their Inner Strength training to budding entrepreneurs taking part in Buzz Business. One highlight was meeting Sujatha, a successful entrepreneur who launched her own line of organic plant-based oils under the brand Shri Shudda. Her story embodied the ripple effect of our work, how one woman’s growth can nourish an entire community.

In Tanzania, the Social Capital Foundation visited our partner organisation SOTE. They witnessed how our training comes to life in rural settings through relatable themes, role-play exercises, and space for open reflection. The sessions weren’t just engaging; they were alive with voices, laughter, and bold thinking. Conversations with women revealed deep shifts: increased confidence, growing savings, and a stronger voice in their homes and communities.

In Kenya, the visit marked a meaningful moment in our newest partnership with Emerging Leaders Foundation (ELF). Though still in early stages, the enthusiasm was palpable. ELF’s team and trainers shared their hopes for the program. Together, we’re stepping into new territory, bringing the Buzz Women approach to both rural areas and, for the first time, to urban informal settlements. It’s a promising start to a collaboration that bridges experience in youth leadership with a new focus on women’s empowerment.

Across all three countries, one thing stood out: the strength of local energy, the relevance of our model, and the collective belief that change is possible when it starts from within.

We’re deeply grateful to Social Capital Foundation for walking this path with us. Their visit affirmed the power of local action to create global impact, and the importance of doing this work together with trust, vision, and a shared belief in women’s leadership.

Before joining the Buzz Women training in 2023, Marilyn Minja was running her hairdressing business without any understanding of financial management. “I didn’t know anything about customer care, business relationships, or even how to keep financial records,” she recalls. As a mother, she would often withdraw all the money from her business sometimes up to TZS 100,000 and spend it at the market without any plan, often buying things she didn’t need. “I realized I had no budgeting skills, and it affected everything.”

Things changed after she attended the Buzz Women sessions, where she learned about business skills, financial literacy, capital management, profit tracking, and even how to pay herself a salary. “I used to think that because I own the business frame, I didn’t need to set aside rent—but now I save for it,” she says proudly. Marilyn now keeps clear records of her finances, saves regularly, and has even started paying herself a salary.

The impact of this transformation goes beyond her business. “I don’t struggle with my children’s school fees anymore. I pay on time without borrowing. These trainings truly opened my mind and gave me a bigger vision for my life,” she explains.

Marilyn’s proudest achievement? She is now building her own house. “Next time you visit, you’ll find it already painted!” she says with a smile.

She encourages other women to take the training seriously, no matter their income level. “Even if you don’t have much, start small. Save even TZS 2,000 a week. It adds up. Life has changed, and waiting for someone to give you money no longer works. Buzz Women helped me stand on my own.”

One of our outstanding Buzz Georgia Ambassadors – Lili Pulariani—the founder of the ethno

house “Niasouli” and the NGO “WomenFromDimi”—celebrated her birthday in May in a truly

special way by organizing an inspirational gathering for teenage girls from the local community.

She invited successful women living and working in Georgia, each with transformative

experiences in their respective fields—entrepreneurs, well-known comedians, local bloggers,

doctors, psychologists and civil society activists—who shared their own teenage stories,

personal growth journeys and the dreams they had at that age, along with the steps they later took to make those dreams a reality.

Additionally, the purpose of the gathering hosted by Lili—which was held in a stand-up

format—was to help prepare teenage girls from Dimi to speak confidently in the same

format and to develop their pitching and presentation skills.

They created a supportive and inspiring atmosphere that deeply resonated with the

teenage girls, making the event emotional, open, and profoundly impactful.