ElimLim Ekuam

In the heart of Isiolo lives Elimlim, originally from Baragoi, she relocated to Isiolo after the death of her husband, determined to create a safer, more stable future for her children. Widowed and alone, she bore the full weight of raising a family in a new town, with no steady income and little support. To feed her children and keep them in school, she turned to selling charcoal, hard labor that barely brought in enough to meet their basic needs. Even as she worked tirelessly, the hardships mounted. Elimlim has experienced the unimaginable grief of losing eight of her children over the years. It’s a kind of sorrow that could easily break someone, yet she carried it silently, fueled by her love for those still with her.

Now, Elimlim cares for her grandchildren—left in her custody after the passing of her children. With each passing day, she continues to pour into their lives with the same fierce devotion and determination she once gave her own. Eventually, the strain became overwhelming. With her charcoal business no longer sustainable and food becoming scarcer, Elimlim faced the painful reality of her grandchildren dropping out of school.

That’s when Mama Ibado Charity stepped in. Through the monthly food distribution program, Elimlim began receiving staples such as maize flour, rice, sugar, and cooking oil, essentials that made an immediate difference. But beyond the food itself, she received something even more meaningful: peace of mind. She no longer wakes up wondering how to put food on the table. Her grandchildren now eat regularly. The burden of constant survival has lifted just enough to allow her to breathe again.

Elimlim’s story is a powerful reminder that true strength often lives in silence. It’s found in the grandmother who endures, who keeps showing up for her family, who moves to a new place with nothing but hope and holds her household together through it all. And thanks to consistent support, she’s now walking forward with dignity, supported by a community that sees her.