Amina Abdi

“I remember I was twelve years old when my father called me to discuss my marriage,” Amina recalls, her voice heavy with sadness. “I cried because I was too young. I didn’t understand marriage. I was afraid, but I had no power to refuse.”

Born in Kula Mawe, Isiolo South, Amina was the third-born among nine siblings in a traditional Borana family. Her childhood revolved around herding cattle, goats, and sheep, as was customary in her nomadic community. Formal education was never an option for her. Instead, she learned household chores and helped on their small farm. But her life took an abrupt turn when her parents arranged a Kadda—a marital agreement meeting—sealing her fate in an early marriage.

Forced into a new life, Amina became a wife at twelve. Over the years, she bore ten children, but tragedy struck as eight of them passed away. She and her husband lived in Isiolo before moving to Nairobi when he secured a job. Adjusting to city life was challenging, but it provided stability—until fate struck again. One evening, her husband was attacked and left with life-threatening injuries. Unable to work, he resigned, and in 2002, they moved back to Isiolo to rebuild their lives.

With their remaining savings, they bought a small plot and built a wooden house. However, their struggle continued. Shortly after settling in, Amina’s husband was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Treatment options were scarce, and he passed away, leaving Amina to fend for her remaining children alone.

“My husband did everything—paid school fees, bought food, covered medical bills,” Amina says. After his death, life became unbearably difficult. She had never worked outside her home, and the fear of not being able to provide for her family was overwhelming. Desperate, she reached out to her siblings for help, but none came.

Determined to survive, she started selling mandazis, though the income was barely enough. Many nights, her family went to bed hungry. Still, Amina persevered, finding work on a small farm while continuing her mandazi business. As the years passed, some of her children passed away, leaving behind grandchildren she now had to care for. However, age began to take its toll, and she could no longer manage the hard labor required to sustain her family.

It was at this critical moment that Mama Ibado Charity found Amina struggling to feed herself and her grandchildren. She had gone days without food. Seeing her desperate situation, the organization enrolled her in the Seniors Feeding Program, ensuring she would never have to worry about her next meal again.

Today, Amina lives with her two jobless children and small grandchildren. Thanks to the support she receives, her playful nature has resurfaced—relieved from the daily stress of finding food. She has been a Mama Ibado Charity beneficiary for six years, and the program has transformed her life.

Amina’s story is one of resilience, but she still needs your help. There are many more seniors like Amina—struggling to survive, caring for grandchildren, and battling the effects of age and poverty. Your donation can ensure that they receive food, medical support, and the dignity they deserve in their final years.