Mercy Wasai Mghanga, a dynamic 51-year-old with a degree, embodies passion and commitment. Her career path has led her to become a marine resource manager, fish trader and product enhancement expert in Kenya. She is a source of inspiration for those seeking to create a sustainable impact.
A Life Dedicated to Marine Resource Management
The heart of Mercy’s mission lies in community capacity building. She strives to advance the skills of local communities for sustainable fishing.
“In my country, I am involved in various activities. We do fishing, we train women in value-adding and quality control, I’m also a member of the women in the fishing sector as a leader, I’m the president who founded the group,” she said.
A Vision Born of Education and Training Diversity
Education as the Foundation
Mercy’s story is an inspiring example of the impact of education. Its innovative ideas have been shaped by a variety of training courses provided by organizations such as CAOPA, CANCO, TUFAK, FAO, WWF and government institutions.
From local trader to global leader
For over two decades, Mercy was a simple fish trader in her home village. However, her vision motivated her to seek self-employment and improve the well-being of local communities through personal savings and family contributions.
“I’m also a community member on our national steering committee, which allows us to address some of the challenges within the community, and then advocate the community’s interests with the government and internationally,” she emphasized.
Fighting discrimination and promoting gender equality
Mercy strives to break down the barriers of discrimination between men and women in leadership. She sees gender equality as essential to the success of her sector.
“What we do in Kenya as women in the fishing sector, we plant mangroves, do coral reef conservation, fishing, we have women going into fishing, we also do marine conservation, we collaborate with the Kenya Whale Protection Service and other institutions like the Ministry of Fisheries and the Kenya Forestry Department.”
Investment in modern working facilities
Mercy recognizes that to move the fishing industry forward, modern facilities, such as cold chain equipment and adequate processing facilities, are essential.
From Shopkeeper to Leader: An Extraordinary Journey
Over the years, Mercy has evolved from a simple trader to an influential leader, representing artisanal fisheries from grassroots levels to government and international NGOs.
Lasting impact
She has already enabled over two thousand women in Kenya to become fish traders, strengthening coordination in the fishing sector.
Mercy is also committed to job creation and the sustainable management of marine protected areas.
Mercy’s advice for new entrepreneurs
Passion, Patience and Perseverance Are Key
She insists that business is not just a quest for quick money, but rather an adventure that requires passion, patience and perseverance.
Communication and Marketing Strategy
Two essential pillars for success in the business world are effective communication with customers and a sound marketing strategy to keep up with market trends.
Challenges to overcome
Mercy recognizes that insufficient working facilities, such as fishing gear, and limited business capital, are major challenges in her business.
“In Kenya, we believe that there is a need to empower women and men, because we find that we have many problems with access to fishing, we lack fishing activities, accessories such as pirogues and other fishing gear,” she raises.
For a sustainable future
Mercy Wasai Mghanga remains committed to empowering communities to ensure sustainability for future generations. Her vision and exemplary leadership are an inspiration to all those who aspire to make a positive difference in the world.
Mamadou Aliou DIALLO
caopacom@gmail.com