Halima Hussein Bule

At 58 years old, Halima Hussein Bule’s life is a testament to quiet endurance and the fierce love of a mother who refuses to give up, even when life has given her every reason to. She lives in Bula Pesa, Isiolo County, where she is not only navigating the realities of aging and chronic illness, but also carrying the weight of her family’s struggles on her shoulders.

Halima was enrolled in the Mama Ibado Charity Seniors Feeding Program after an assessment revealed just how vulnerable her situation had become. For years, she earned a modest living doing informal jobs—small tasks here and there that allowed her to provide for herself and her children. But everything changed when she fell ill. Diagnosed with high blood pressure and experiencing a steady decline in her health, she could no longer work. Her ability to fend for herself disappeared almost overnight.
But her own health is just one part of a much larger story.

Halima is the mother of four children, none of whom were able to complete school due to financial constraints. The only one who advanced to secondary school dropped out in Form 3 and got married. Her only son had once been a hardworking driver, traveling far and wide to earn a living and support the family. But fate had other plans. After being involved in three separate road accidents, the last one left him permanently disabled. He now uses a wheelchair and is confined to one place—no longer able to provide for himself, let alone support his aging mother.

Today, Halima lives with two of her grandchildren, for whom she is the sole caregiver. It is a heavy responsibility, especially for someone dealing with chronic illness and no source of income. Her days are filled with concern—not just for her health, but for how she will continue to keep food on the table and care for her grandchildren.

That’s where Mama Ibado Charity stepped in. Through the Seniors Feeding Program, Halima now receives monthly food packages that have become a vital part of her survival.“With my condition, I can’t work anymore,” she shares. “But thanks to this help, I can feed my grandchildren. It’s the biggest relief for me.”

Halima’s story reflects the heartbreaking reality for many seniors across different communities: aging individuals who, despite personal suffering, continue to carry the weight of their families, often with no assistance.