FATUMA BOLICHA

For Fatuma Bolicho, life has been a journey of hardship, loss, and endurance. She came to Isiolo after getting married, ready to begin a new chapter with her husband. Isiolo became her home, and it was here that she was blessed with children. Like many families, they tried to build a modest life by keeping cattle and goats. The animals provided food, income, and a sense of security for the family’s future.

That security was taken away when bandits raided and stole all their livestock. With nothing left to depend on. To survive, she turned to small jobs. She began selling kales in the market and collecting firewood to sell. The work was exhausting and the earnings were very little, but it was what kept her family going. Out of this effort, she managed to save and buy a few goats. For a while, it gave her hope that life might slowly improve. However, that hope was cut short when the goats were stolen.

As she tried to recover from one struggle after another, tribal clashes erupted in the area where she was staying. The violence forced her to move again, leaving behind whatever little she had managed to build. Each time she tried to start over, something came to take it away, and her life became heavier with struggle.

Her greatest heartbreak came when her son, the one she was living with and depending on for support, passed away. Losing him left her broken, lonely, and uncertain of how to continue. Life felt unbearable and every day was a test of survival.

It was during this time of deep hardship that Mama Ibado Charity came into her life. They visited her, saw her situation, and welcomed her as a beneficiary. That moment marked a turning point. With their support, she began receiving food that eased the constant worry of where her next meal would come from. She also gained access to healthcare, something she had never been able to manage before. For the first time in a long time, she felt some relief and comfort in knowing that she was not alone.

Since then, life has begun to feel lighter. She no longer carries her burdens entirely on her own. She has food, access to healthcare, and a sense of dignity that had once been taken away by hardship. Today, Fatuma looks back on her journey with gratitude. Life is still not without its challenges, but it is better than it was before. Her heart is full of thanks, and she gives all the glory to God for bringing help at the time she needed it most.