Raya lives in Makangale on the island of Pemba, off the coast of mainland Tanzania, and is hoping to become a dairy farmer. She is 30 years old married with 5 children ranging in age from 3 to 14 years. She currently farms yams and cassava, earning about US$ 50 (80,000 TZS) each year in addition to the US$ 950 (TZS 1,500,000) salary her husband earns as a teacher.

As part of the Makangale group, Raya is looking forward to helping to open the Makangale branch of Pemba Fresh, the island's first dairy farm, where she and the group will care for the cattle and produce fresh milk, eventually expanding to cheese, yogurt, butter, ghee, and other products. Through dairy farming, Raya has the potential to vastly increase her income and improve her daily life.