FATUMA HAPPI

For Fatuma Happi, life has been marked by years of devotion, loss, and perseverance. She and her husband built their life around simple work and family, with her husband taking on daily jobs to provide for their household. For many years, his income was what kept the family going, until illness changed everything. Her husband developed chronic heart disease, and as his condition worsened, Fatuma became his primary source of care and support. On medical advice, the couple moved to Isiolo, hoping that a change in environment would help ease his condition. Instead, the move marked the beginning of a long and difficult period in Fatuma's life.

For two decades, Fatuma stood by her husband as his health continued to decline. She cared for him through years of illness while also facing the emotional and financial strain that came with a prolonged health condition. Despite the difficulties, she remained committed to him until his death. His passing left Fatuma facing a very different reality. Without her husband's income and with no reliable source of her own, she struggled to meet even the most basic needs. The person who had supported the household was gone, and Fatuma was left to navigate life alone.

Fatuma is also blind, adding another significant challenge to her circumstances. Without her sight and without a dependable income, carrying out everyday tasks and finding ways to support herself became increasingly difficult. In the period following her husband's death, she depended largely on occasional assistance from neighbors and other members of the community to get by. For a time, that support helped her survive from one day to the next, but it offered little certainty. Food remained a constant concern, and Fatuma had no dependable means of knowing whether she would have enough to eat.

A turning point came when Fatuma met a well wisher, Mama Nastewo, who recognized the difficulties she was facing and connected her with Mama Ibado Foundation team. After assessing her circumstances, the foundation enrolled Fatuma in its monthly food assistance program.

The regular support has brought much-needed stability to her life. Receiving food each month has eased the uncertainty that once surrounded her meals and reduced the pressure of trying to find ways to provide for herself without an income. It has given Fatuma a reliable source of support at a time when her circumstances make it difficult to meet her needs independently. For Fatuma, the assistance has also brought a renewed sense of comfort and dignity. After spending twenty years caring for her husband through illness, followed by the loss of her partner and the challenges of living with blindness, having consistent support has provided her with reassurance that she is not facing everything alone.

Today, Fatuma continues her life in Isiolo with greater security. The monthly food assistance has become an important part of her ability to meet her basic needs, allowing her to live with greater dignity and less uncertainty. After spending much of her life caring for someone else, Fatuma now has support to help carry her through the years ahead.