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Mary
in front of her shop
Mary
at her shop
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My
name is Mary Njeri Muya. I am 42 years old. I
have three children all in high school. I was married
for 24 years in central Kenya. Due to unemployment you
men are vulnerable to drugs, my husband was among them
and this habit completely ruined our marriage. We
separated 5 years ago and I was left with the burden of
bringing up and educating the thee children. I was left
with no other option apart from doing odd jobs sometimes
at odd hours to provide for my family. I moved from home
to home looking for casual jobs which include laundry,
digging, cooking. At times men would take advantage of
my desperate state and ask for sexual favours for money
sometimes I would oblige since I had no alternative and
I was desperate for money. It is through this door to
door search for job that I met one of IC Africa
volunteers who after a candid talk that he was
sympathetic of my situation.
He
offered to take me to a business training offered by one
of the local banks-Equity Bank. Eight weeks of intense
training I graduated with the necessary business skills.
After completion, ICAfrica Kimende gave me a loan of Ksh.
5,000 and I set up a grocery shop at Rukuma, a nearby
town. Here I sell fruits and vegetables, many people
come to my shop as I have fresh products.
I am glad this small shop is providing for my family. I
open it in the evenings when people come to shop for
supper and I can do other family chores in the day.
Right now I am half way to repaying this loan. I intend
to complete the loan repayment in the next two months.
In January it might be hard to expand it because the
children are going back to school and there are fees to
pay but in February I plan to expand the shop to include
more products. My customers come to shop for supper and
I plan to include related items like charcoal, kerosene
and cereals.
I
wish to thank ICAfrica very much and the volunteers
there, my life has been changed and I have hope. My
children are getting education and food; they will be
able to achieve their dreams. Please convey my thanks to
all the well-wishers that support your program too, and
tell them God bless you.
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