Victoria Achitsa Adriano

Victoria Achitsa Adriano was born in Shinyalu Sub-County as the fourth child in a large family of ten. Growing up in a household with many siblings, she experienced the realities of a busy and resource-constrained home from a young age. Her early years were spent navigating the communal life of a big family while learning the values of resilience.

She attended school until class five, where she began to build a foundation for her future. However, her education came to an abrupt end when her father could no longer afford the required school fees. Without the financial means to continue, she was forced to leave the classroom and return to the family land.

Upon leaving school, Victoria stayed with her mother to work on the farm, dedicating her days to manual labor in the fields. She spent years tilling the land to help provide food for the household, as there were no other employment opportunities available to her. This period of labor-intensive work defined her transition into adulthood before she eventually left her home to get married.

Victoria married and settled in Shitao, where she faced extreme hardships while raising her ten children. Life was a constant struggle as she and her husband lived in deep poverty, often lacking even basic clothing and going for days without enough food to eat. Following the death of her husband and three of her adult children, she was left to care for numerous grandchildren alone, often forced to take small loans from local groups just to afford a single meal.

Her circumstances began to change when a local youth helped register her with the Mama Ibado organization after verifying her age. Through this initiative, she was officially enrolled to receive a monthly ration of essential supplies including rice, maize flour, milk, salt, tea leaves, and porridge flour. Recently, she was especially grateful to receive an increased allocation of sugar and cooking oil, items she previously could not afford to buy.

"In the past, my life was defined by the heavy burden of debt and the constant fear of hunger, but today I have the peace of knowing there is food on my table," says Victoria.

The support from the program has significantly lowered her stress, as she no longer has to scramble for food money to feed the many grandchildren under her care. Beyond the nutritional benefits, she receives vital healthcare support through the program, visiting the clinic every Thursday for regular medical check-ups. This medical attention is crucial for her as she manages the various aches and illnesses that come with being seventy-four years old.

"Access to consistent nutrition and weekly medical care has transformed my health, allowing me to live with a sense of dignity that was missing for many years," explains Victoria Achitsa Adriano.

Victoria still requires assistance because she remains the sole provider for several grandchildren and an unemployed son, all of whom rely on her for survival. Her advanced age and recurring health issues make it impossible for her to return to manual labor or farming. Ongoing support is necessary to ensure she can manage her medical needs and continue providing for the vulnerable family members left in her care.