Madagascar: Jeannette's Story
My name is Razafimanantsoa Jeannette, and I am 59 years old from Toliara, Madagascar, and I am married with three children. Before attending the Financial Freedom for Families (F4) training in 2024, my family and I faced constant financial struggles. I never set yearly objectives or tracked our expenses, leading to a perpetual budget deficit. We relied solely on my husband's stipend, which barely covered food and school fees.
Everything changed when my husband and I joined the F4 program run by CMS-Africa. For the first time, we learned the importance of setting yearly goals, including how to create additional income to improve our family's life. With newfound vision and purpose, we planned to start a small business—an eatery. To make this dream a reality, we joined a savings group, enabling us to access a loan to launch our venture.
Since opening the eatery, our lives have been transformed. The income from the business now covers our rent, and we have an emergency fund for hospital bills and other family expenses. This financial stability has given us peace of mind and hope for the future. We now want to expand our eatery into a full-fledged restaurant.
I am deeply grateful to God for enabling CMS-Africa bring for us the F4 program, which has changed our lives. Special thanks to Pastor Jeff Sikabwe and Mr. Ialy Tongasoa for their guidance and support. They not only taught us financial principles but also inspired us to pursue our dreams.
Through the F4 training, I found vision, purpose, and a way to break free from financial constraints. Our journey is just beginning, and I am excited about the future that lies ahead.