From Kilimanjaro to the Farm: Wema Paulo’s Story

At just 26 years old, Wema Paulo from Ilkiding’a, Arusha, is defining what is possible for young women in her community through resilience, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

After completing her secondary education, financial constraints prevented her from continuing to university, so she joined the Tanzania National Service Youth Military Training Programme, where she developed discipline and confidence. Upon completing the programme, Wema pursued her love for mountain guiding, starting as a porter carrying climbers’ luggage before becoming a cook. She has since summited Mount Kilimanjaro more than 15 times, often as the youngest woman on her team.

As she continued her work in the mountains, Wema remained closely connected to her family’s farm. In between climbs, she would assist her mother on their family’s quarter acre plot, growing onions, potatoes and vegetables. Like many farmers in her community, the family farm mainly supported household consumption, with limited income from surplus sales. Poor storage facilities, especially for onions, often forced farmers to sell quickly at low prices to avoid losses.

In 2024, Wema joined the Mastercard Foundation-supported Vijana Kilimo Biashara (VKB) programme implemented by the Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA) under the World Food Programme Tanzania. Through the programme, she learned Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), including improved crop management techniques that enhanced onion quality, size, and shelf life. As a result, production on the family’s quarter-acre plot increased dramatically from about 10 bags of onions to between 70 and 100 bags per season.

Recognizing that storage was key to maximizing profits, Wema used prize money won through a TAHA youth MSME competition to invest USD 4,900 in building an onion storage facility with proper ventilation. The facility can store up to 2,000 kilograms of onions and enables farmers to preserve their harvests for up to six months. She now rents storage space to other farmers, helping them wait for better market prices and increase their earnings.

The additional income has allowed Wema to open a retail shop and support her family’s farming activities. Her success has also challenged local gender norms, inheriting land from her father and inspiring young women in her community. Today, Wema mentors three aspiring female farmers, shaping a new generation of confident and successful young women farmers.