Martha’s Story
Martha lived in a one-bedroom apartment with her two daughters, Ilona (13) and Irene (6). She is a sweet, soft-spoken, and caring person who is trained in first aid and emergency health response, but has mostly worked in customer service. When she was able to work, life was relatively normal and manageable.
However, things quickly took a turn for the worse when her marriage to Irene’s father broke down. Not long after, she lost her job. These events combined to trigger a significant mental health breakdown.
This was the state in which the Macheo social workers found her: drained of optimism and tearful, she was being evicted from her previous home due to rent arrears. Ilona had just completed primary school and was preparing to transition to junior secondary. Irene also required support for school, among other needs. But Martha, in her condition at the time, was unable to meet her daughters’ needs. These challenges only compounded her misery.
It took a combination of tailor-made interventions to help guide Martha to the other side of her situation. The first priority was relocating the family to a more affordable yet decent home. Next, both Ilona and Irene were enrolled in school. With the family now settled, Martha began attending counseling sessions. Her positive response to therapy encouraged Macheo’s economic empowerment team to lay the groundwork that eventually led to her starting a small business.
“My daughter has settled well in school, and so has the little one. I make buns very early in the morning, and chapati in the afternoon. It’s a big change for me, but I’m not complaining, considering where I was. I’m not where I want to be, but I’m glad this is where I am—it’s a bearable place to be. I still have sessions with Sarah; she has been immensely helpful in getting me into this mental space. Thanks for all the support you have shown me,” Martha shares.
Martha has since moved back in with her parents, helping her mother care for her ailing father and her grandmother, who has dementia. She continues to run her small business, and Macheo maintains regular follow-ups with her and her family.
Bespoke, holistic support for families such as Martha and her girls through the Family Needs Based Model helps to make real, impactful change that lasts. Kipawa is proud to support Macheo in this work so that more families can be assisted, just like Martha.