Rising with the Waves: Rhoda and Monica’s Journey with the Ten Fishmongers Women Group

Along the shores of Lake Victoria, the sound of determination is louder than the waves. At Uhanya Beach in Siaya County, a group of women known as the Ten Fishmongers Women Group is leading a quiet revolution. For years, women around the lake were trapped in an exploitative system that made access to fish difficult and unsafe. Today, through unity and empowerment, these women have turned the tide in their favor.

Supported by Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) in partnership with MEDA under the Leveraging Equality for Gender Inclusive Economic Development (LEGEND) Project, the Ten Fishmongers Women Group is transforming livelihoods through aquaculture, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The group has received a fish cage, fingerlings, feeds, a motorized boat, and most recently, a solar-powered freezer to improve fish preservation. These investments have not only improved their income but also strengthened their role as leaders within their community.

Among the many women who have grown through this initiative are Monica and Rhoda, whose stories embody the group’s journey of resilience and renewal.

When Monica first came to Uhanya in 2022, she hoped to make a living from selling omena. The business was not easy. Accessing fish was inconsistent, and her earnings were low. Determined to provide for her children, she started a small street food stall just outside the local meeting hall. When she joined the Ten Fishmongers Women Group, everything began to change.

Through training and mentorship, Monica learned better ways to manage her business and engage in aquaculture. She also gained the confidence to expand her ventures and support others.

“I have managed to educate my children and even employed people in the aquaculture space,” says Monica.

Her small food stall has now become a reliable source of income, and she continues to support the group’s fish farming activities. Monica’s story is one of persistence and faith, a reminder that when women are given equal opportunity, they find ways to thrive.

Rhoda, the chairlady of the group, has seen firsthand how the right knowledge can change everything. After receiving training through the project, she diversified her income by starting a kitchen garden and poultry business at her home.

“Since the training, I have never had to buy chicken. I sold eighteen cockerels last month, and that helped me pay school fees for my children,” Rhoda shares proudly.

Beyond poultry, Rhoda has kept investing in aquaculture and now owns two boats which employ local youth to manage fish cages and nets. Her home is a model of self-reliance, filled with green vegetables, chicken coops, and an incubator she uses to increase her flock.

Under her leadership, the Ten Fishmongers Women Group continues to grow stronger. Their table banking initiative has expanded, enabling members to lend to one another and reinvest in their businesses. With the solar-powered freezer, they can now store fish safely and reduce post-harvest losses, which has significantly increased their profits.

The story of Rhoda, Monica, and the Ten Fishmongers Women Group is a story of courage and transformation. It is a reflection of what happens when grassroots women are equipped with skills, resources, and opportunity. From the shores of Lake Victoria, these women are proving that empowerment is not a gift. It is a process, and one that continues to ripple through their community, changing lives one wave at a time.