Magreth (Mama Melanie)
MAGRETH’S} STORY
This is a story of a 33-year-old woman named Magreth, a mother of four children, (12, 6, 3 and 10 months old) whose life reflects both the hardship and remarkable determination of African women to provide for their children.
Magreth was abandoned by her husband while pregnant with their fourth child and left to care for the three young children alone. Her husband was a construction worker who traveled for work, but he changed as soon as he started making money. Soon he left Judith and married another woman. Men often have multiple wives in Africa. Despite the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy, Magreth worked long hours to provide food for her family. To earn a small income, she washed other people’s clothes and made chapati (flat bread) for a local food vendor. Even with this effort, her earnings were barely enough to meet their most basic needs. She was able to save only 30,000 shillings (about $15.USD), to pay for her medical bills of childbirth. She came home from the hospital with a newborn and three children and no money.
Her sister offered what little support she could, providing less than half a dollar a day to help the family buy food. Although this assistance helped them survive, they could only manage to eat one meal a day.
On Mother’s Day, March 2025, a turning point occurred in Magreth’s life. Following a directive from the Regional Commissioner, vulnerable mothers were invited to come forward and share their struggles. It was on this day that she met a government social worker for the first time and had the opportunity to speak openly about her situation. The social worker recognized the seriousness of her circumstances and the risks facing both the mother and her children. As a result, she was referred to Neema Village for support, care, and guidance. This intervention provided her with access to safety, assistance, and hope for a more stable future.
We went to her house for an interview when her youngest child was a month old. She was living in one bedroom with four children, sleeping on the floor after selling a mattress to make some money. With her determination we decided she was a good fit for the MAP Program. She started immediately getting money for food every month for her and her children from Neema Village through the MAP Program. We also bought a mattress and some other house supplies for her. She started attending classes and counseling and after six months she was ready to start her business. She loves cooking so she wanted to open a food vending business. She started her business in September 2025.
Her story highlights the struggles most African women face after being abandoned by their husbands. Magreth was fortunate, she found help and people who cared like Jesus cares.