AGNESS’s STORY (Mama Jerrson)

Agness is an 18-year-old mother whose young life has already carried more pain than most people endure in a lifetime. She is the mother of three children but two of them tragically passed away.  She has one baby boy named Jerrson who is one month old.

Growing up in deep poverty, Agness was unable to continue her education beyond second grade. She never learned how to read or write. Instead of attending school, she spent her childhood helping her parents with farming and caring for livestock.

At 12 years old while Agness was still very young, she had not yet started even her first menstrual period, Agness was married  to a 17 year old boy. Only two months after the marriage, she became pregnant. When she went into labor, she delivered a baby girl who had already passed away. Doctors explained that complications during pregnancy had led to the baby’s death.

Three months later, Agness became pregnant again. At six months, she started to feel labour pain and went to hospital and delivered a baby boy who also died shortly after birth. Once again, doctors attributed the loss to ongoing untreated pregnancy complications.

After the second loss, Agness returned home to her husband, but instead of comfort, she faced intense emotional abuse from her mother-in-law. She was insulted, blamed, and told she was cursed that she brought misfortune to the family because every child she bore died.

Through tears, and hands on her head Agness said; “The pain of giving birth and holding no baby in your arms feels like fire burning in your heart.”

Overwhelmed by grief and rejection, she returned to her parents’ home. Two months later, a friend connected her to a woman in Arusha who needed a house girl/helper. In December 2024, Agness moved to Arusha and began working. After disagreements with her employer, she left and found work washing dishes and helping in small local restaurants.

In 2025, she met a man who promised to love and care for her. She became pregnant again, and he agreed to live with her. Agness gave birth to a baby boy, Jerrson now one month old.

Sadly, the child’s father struggled with alcohol and drug abuse. Each evening he would return home intoxicated and violently beat Agness.  Even after childbirth, the abuse continued. At times, she was strangled and beaten so severely that swallowing caused her pain.

Local leaders attempted to mediate, but the violence did not stop. Eventually, a social welfare officer contacted Neema Village, asking for urgent intervention on Agness’s behalf.

Today, Agness and baby Jerrson are safe at the MAP Apartments. She is attending Women’s Rights seminars, Bible study, group therapy, and individual counseling. For the first time in her life, she is surrounded by women who encourage her, protect her, and remind her that she has value.

Agness’s journey is still unfolding. The wounds of her past are deep, but her strength is deeper. With continued support, she can heal, grow, and become not only a strong mother to Jerrson, but also a source of hope to other women who feel forgotten.

Together, we can help Agness see the brighter side of life and rise again with dignity and purpose.

Please help these lion-hearted women who struggle and work so hard at jobs that pay so little to have a better life for their children.  They have no one else but Christians to help them.  The government certainly cannot help.

If you can help go to www.neemavillage.org and click on the donate button.  The MAP program is under outreach.