Toboso Joyce Ondoso

Toboso Joyce Ondoso was born in 1943 in Shikoti as one of six children, comprising four girls and two boys. Growing up in a household that prioritized education strictly for boys, she remained at home without the opportunity to attend school.

Her early years were spent fulfilling domestic roles within her family homestead. Without formal schooling, her options were restricted to physical chores, an outcome that limited her independence and later made earning a livelihood challenging.

After marrying, she moved to Shikambi and began a family, eventually having four children.

Raising her family required immense effort, particularly as her husband shifted between working at an Indian-owned hotel and sorting goods, while three of her children passed away suddenly after brief illnesses, leaving only one surviving daughter.

Life became exceptionally difficult when her husband died after consuming poisoned alcohol, leaving her alone without a steady source of income. With no son to assist her and her remaining daughter married in Makunga with her own responsibilities, securing daily meals and addressing her failing right eye became constant challenges.

Relief arrived when community outreach identified her situation and facilitated her registration with the Mama Ibado Foundation on December 4, 2023. Through this program, she began receiving consistent monthly nutritional support, including maize flour, sugar, tea leaves, porridge flour, and salt.

"The monthly food packages have removed the constant worry of going to sleep on an empty stomach," Toboso shares regarding her life today.

While the nutritional support has restored her stability, she continues to require ongoing assistance to manage her failing eyesight and cover basic healthcare expenses.