MACHIKA DONALD MBWABI

Machika Donald Mbwabi was born on February 8, 1947, in Shivakhala village. He was the firstborn in a family of four children, growing up with two brothers and one sister who all relied on their parents' meager earnings from casual labor on local colonial farms.

He started his education at Matende Primary School, but his journey was cut short after only reaching class three. He was forced to drop out because his parents could not raise the seven shillings required for school fees, leaving him to stay at home and assist with manual labor.

After leaving school, Machika spent his youth doing small jobs like tilling land and clearing bushes for neighbors. He also spent many years splitting firewood and doing heavy manual work to help his parents put food on the table since there were no stable jobs available.

He eventually married and was blessed with eight children, though one has since passed away. The struggle to raise a large family on casual labor meant that none of his children reached form four, as they were frequently sent home due to a lack of proper clothing and school fees.

The family lived in a four-roomed semi-permanent house without electricity, relying on a neighbor's borehole for water. Their compound became increasingly small as his three sons built their own homes on the same tiny plot, leaving Machika with no space to farm for food.

In a desperate attempt to survive, he turned part of his small compound into a brick-making site to earn a few shillings. He and his wife sold bananas and chickens to buy basic school supplies for their children, but they frequently faced nights of total hunger when no labor was available.

His situation became even more difficult when he took in two grandchildren whose father had died, leaving them with no one to provide for their needs. He was introduced to the program through a local contact and was officially enrolled in the Mama Ibado Charity on May 17, 2021.

Machika now receives monthly rations of maize flour, rice, sugar, cooking oil, tea leaves, and milk. This support ensures that his household of eight dependents no longer faces the crushing fear of starvation that previously defined their lives.

"There were days I wondered where even a single cup of maize would come from, but now I can plan for the month knowing my grandchildren will have a meal."

The food basket has allowed Machika to share the little he has with his elderly mother-in-law, who also lives in extreme poverty. Having a consistent food supply has restored his dignity and reduced the physical strain of looking for manual labor at his advanced age.

Machika still needs help because he has no land left for farming and eight people depending on him for survival. His aging body can no longer support the heavy labor of brick-making or splitting firewood, making the charity's support his only lifeline.