WERE HALIMA NABWIRE

Alfred Shisundi was born in 1949 in the Idakho area of Ikolomani, Kakamega County. As a child, he was the fourth born in a large family that faced many hurdles. He attended Mtao Primary School and later moved to another school in Bushiangala to continue his learning.

He reached Class 5 before he was forced to drop out of school entirely. This happened because his father passed away, leaving the family with no way to pay for his fees. With his education cut short, he began working as a laborer herding cattle and farming for others.

After his school years, he moved from place to place looking for better work to support himself. He eventually found a position as a caretaker at a school where he still stays today. He remains there because he has no other home and receives no formal salary for his presence.

Alfred later married and became a father to seven children, consisting of four sons and three daughters. His life at home became very difficult after his houses were burned down during a period of local conflict. This loss forced him to leave his ancestral land and seek refuge where he stays now.

Finding enough food for his large family became a constant struggle every single day. His children were unable to go to school and now survive only by doing casual weeding for neighbors. Even his daughters have had to return home with their own children because their marriages could not survive the poverty.

Before he received help, his wife had to do manual labor just to get a small meal for the day. He eventually learned about the Mama Ibado organization through a friend in a local community group. He decided to visit the organization to see if they could offer any support for a person in his condition.

"Before joining this program, I was always weak and worried about where my next meal would come from, but now I have the strength to live," as shared by Alfred Shisundi.

The program has changed his life by providing him with essential food supplies every month. He receives four bags of flour, porridge flour, sugar, cooking oil, salt, and tea leaves to sustain his health. These items ensure that he has the energy needed to keep going despite his advanced age.

Beyond the food, the organization looks after his physical well-being through a dedicated health program. He visits the clinic every Thursday for regular check-ups to monitor his body and manage any illnesses. This medical care has given him a sense of security that he never had in the past.

Alfred is full of gratitude for the kindness shown to him by the team at Mama Ibado. He prays for blessings upon the organization so that they can continue their work for a long time. He feels that this support is the only thing keeping his hope alive during these tough years.

"I used to feel forgotten after my house was burned and I lost everything, but now I have food and a doctor to check on me every week," he said.

He still needs this help because he has no stable income and his children are also struggling to eat. Without the food and the weekly clinic visits, his health would quickly fail due to the lack of basic needs. He relies on this partnership to survive because he has no other source of reliable assistance.