Leaving my husband was the hardest decision I had to make. However, after weighing the options without being selfish, it was the right decision.

Our five children had become victims of the violence and abuse that my husband intended for me. The neighbours had gotten used to my cries for help in the wee hours of the night.

This had to end. I was prepared for the consequences. I was prepared for the rejection I would get from my family for bringing them shame by leaving my marital home and from the village women who would laugh at me and call me names.  I packed a few of my belongings and together with my children, left for my father’s house.

A MIFUMI counsellor spoke with my parents about risks of my children and I continuing to leave in a violent relationship.

My father gave me a hut which my children and I made home. Immediately I started figuring out how to support my children without depending on my parents. I started by doing odd jobs like weeding gardens in the neighbourhood for a few shillings and food.

As I settled in, I heard of a group of survivors of domestic violence who were establishing themselves as a Village Savings and Loans Association. Although I did not want every woman to know my story in this village, my first visit to the group confirmed otherwise. They were just a normal group of people who were not interested in prying about my private life.  They talked about all sorts of things, some were out rightly funny. All of them had been supported by MIFUMI, just like me. 

When I met the chair of the group and discussed with her the need to join the group, she welcomed me and with the few savings I had, I joined the group. A few months later, I was eligible for a loan. I borrowed 50,000 shillings from the association and injected it into seeds and tools for my garden. When the harvest came and the produce was sold out, I had made 160,000 shillings. I paid back my debt and borrowed more. This time I went for a bigger loan; I took 300,000 shillings. From this harvest, I had 5 bags of groundnuts, 6 bags of maize and 7 soya beans.

This saving and loans association has transformed my life. I am slowly becoming a popular farmer around the village contacted directly by many produce dealers. Today, all my children go to school and I am constructing a small brick house. I am also supporting my parents in many ways.

Look what I have become, a very enterprising woman, good mother to my children and supportive daughter to my parents; something I would never become if I stayed in that violent and abusive relationship.