Zuhura Hassan

Born in 1951 in Marsabit County, Zuhura’s life has been one of sacrifice and perseverance. She spent her childhood herding livestock, never having the chance to attend school or Madrasa. At 16, she moved to Isiolo, where she met and married the love of her life. Together, they built a family, raising eight children—seven of whom are still alive.
Her husband, a hardworking laborer, carried the full weight of providing for them. But life took a cruel turn when his health began to fail. Diagnosed with asthma and hypertension, he grew weaker, and soon, Zuhura found herself a widow, left to navigate life’s hardships alone.

Determined to care for her children, she took on whatever work she could find. She worked as a casual laborer, cutting and preparing camel meat—known as “nyirinyiri” in Somali—to earn a living. Every small wage meant another day her children would not go hungry. But as the years passed, her struggles deepened. She eventually lost her job, and with no other source of income, she resorted to begging around the village, doing whatever she could to survive.
Her children, now adults, faced their own battles. None had the opportunity to receive an education or find stable jobs. Three of them went through marriages that ended in divorce, while the others moved far away, leaving Zuhura with little support.

One day, while searching for a way to sustain herself, she crossed paths with the Mama Ibado Charity (MIC) team as they conducted an assessment in Maisha Bora, Isiolo. She shared her story and showed them the reality of her living conditions. Her strength and determination left an impression on them, and she was enrolled in the seniors' feeding program, offering her much-needed relief.

Though life has tested her in unimaginable ways, Zuhura continues to push forward, proving that even in the darkest moments, resilience and hope can still shine through.