My name is Theresa Achieng Othieno, I am 75 years old and a widow. I was born in the year 1949 in Jinja town in Uganda where my father worked as an army Officer during president Obote rule. I was the first born in the family and had 3 siblings, we were all girls.
My family lived in Uganda until Iddi Amin took over power in Uganda which saw my father and all staff of President Obote removed from office. My family then returned to Kenya where we lived together in our rural home. I joined school and studied only up to Std. 3. My father refused to pay school fees for girls, he didn’t see the need. The four of us dropped out of school in lower primary education.
It didn’t take long after returning back to Kenya when my mother fell sick and died. My father remarried and we had 3 step siblings 2 boys and 1 girl.
I got married in the year 1971 in Nyalgunga, Gul Village. My husband was a shoe maker in the village. We had 3 children in that marriage 2 girls and 1 boy (Josephine, Dan and Millicent). We have since lost Josephine and Millicent. My only surviving child is Dan.
My husband was a drunkard, a drug addict and a very violent man. He beat me up so much that I had to run away and returned to my mother’s house leaving behind my 3 children with him. I stayed away for many years 10 years (1982 – 1992). I got involved in a road accident during this period which made me disabled. My husband died in the year 1987 and my children remained under the care of their grandmother. Their grandmother died soon after and the children were left suffering, I had to return to my home and take care of my children.
Life was difficult when I returned, I hustled a lot to get to feed and educate my children. In the year 2003 I joined Nyalwocodep where I interacted with other widows and got to receive trainings and other benefits from ADRA which helped me organise myself better and fend for my family.
I started a small-scale business making and selling mandazis in the village and at the local market. Through the VSLA concept introduced to us by ADRA, I was able to save money and get loans to boost my business and serve the loan with a small interest.
ADRA renovated for me my house which was in a very poor state. Today I am a beneficiary of “Inua Jamii” Cash transfer for persons with disability under Social Protection where I receive Kshs.2,000 every month. I had tried for so long to get to be registered and benefit but never succeeded ADRA through the Project Officer helped me to get through and benefit from this fund.
The benefits received from ADRA are endless. Thank you for changing my life and making impossible things in my life possible. May God continue to bless you.