MASAMBAGA MARGARET MUHONJA

Margaret Muhonja was born on April 14, 1966, and grew up in Vihiga County. She was the third of seven children; however, after the loss of four of her siblings, only three remained. She was raised in a humble household where resources were scarce from the very beginning.

She attended school during her early years and managed to study until she reached Standard Seven. Unfortunately, she could not continue her education further because her parents lacked the financial ability to advance her to the next level. This marked the end of her formal schooling and the start of her journey into manual labor.

After leaving school, Margaret stayed at home and began working as a domestic helper to support herself and her family. She spent her days performing housework for others to earn a small living. This period of her life was defined by hard work and the necessity of finding a way to survive without an education.

In time, she met her husband and they started a family together, eventually having five children. Sadly, four of her children passed away, leaving her with one to care for. While her husband worked as a driver to provide their daily bread, his passing left Margaret as the sole provider, making life incredibly difficult.

The burden of raising the family alone meant that Margaret had to take on heavy manual labor, such as washing clothes for others. There were times when the struggle was so great that her children were forced to sleep without food. Her health eventually began to fail due to the strain, leaving her too weak to continue with her laundry work.

A breakthrough came in 2024 when she was introduced to the Mama Ibado Charity. At the time, she was suffering from a severe leg condition that left her unable to even move around her house. A staff member visited her, took her details, and registered her for the program which now provides her with essential supplies like rice, milk, flour, and oil.

Beyond the nutritional support, Margaret receives vital medical assistance, which has been life-changing for her. After years of visiting hospitals that could not find the cause of her pain, she was diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer. Through the program, she now receives specialized care from Oasis doctors and visits the clinic every Thursday for check-ups.

"I no longer live in the shadow of untreated pain, as the medical support I receive has restored my ability to walk and face each day with renewed hope," Margaret explains.

She is deeply grateful for the help that has allowed her to finally step on the ground again and walk with ease. The support from Mama Ibado has reduced her stress and provided a foundation of health and nutrition she never thought possible. She continues to thank the organization for the kindness that has restored her dignity.

Despite this progress, Margaret still requires help because she is a widow managing a chronic illness while caring for her child. Her youngest son has finished Grade 9 and has been called to join Mukumu High School, but she lacks the means to take him there. Continued support is essential to ensure her health remains stable and her child can finally return to school.