MANKA: ‘the young mother who was able to redeem herself’

Manka, is a young woman whom life has put to the test more than once, but thanks to the help of KISEDET she managed to redeem herself and find her independence!’

Manga (Mama Joy), is a young female, aged 27. At this age Margaret Kimoso faced hardships as the result of her parents’ divorce. Her parents separated while she was in standard one at Kibaoni primary school, after graduation in, 2012 Manka decided to cross the border to Kenya to look for money for her family. She went to Nairobi where she stayed for seven years before she came to Dodoma. Manka opened a small shop at Chang’ombe to become independent because she had no support from her family. Like other human beings, Manka engaged in sexual relationship so she could create her own Family. Manka started to experience the same fate as her parents faced. Due to unresolved conflict Manka decided to abort her 5 months fetus though she conceived again and now she has a baby girl (Joyce) from the same man. Unfortunately, Mama Joyce (Manka) faced complication during 7 months (gestation period). She stayed three months at Dodoma Regional Referral hospital under the supervision of social welfare officers because Joyce’s father rejected to provide support including medical support during all time while she spent at the hospital. She stayed for three months consecutively because Joyce was born pre – Matured, during all this time Manka was confronted with a lot of feelings and emotions including suicidal thoughts and abandoning a child (Joyce).

After searching for a long time for help, eventually Manka found Shukurani center (KISEDET) on 21st August, where her future started to brighten again. In spite of having long and difficult stories, KISEDET officers (Hamisi and Mtahu) dedicated their time to provide her with Psychosocial support and economic support in collaboration with a lady, employed at the office of regional commissioner, together they provided startup grands, house rent and goods excluding transport costs, food and nutrition support for her child.

Finally, Mama Joyce is now enjoying her life because she has what she has been fighting for a long time; she has her own source of income which helps her provide her daughter with food, clothes and medication. The image attached explain a lot than all these paragraphs. The image represents the accomplishments not just to KISEDET but to all stakeholders involved in helping Manka even though she had a very difficult and hard past during which she had developed some antisocial behaviors.

KISEDET is proud of Mama Joyce’s progress, and Manka is thankful to KISEDET and Mama Rose Makange to which Manke said: ‘’Thank you so much to KISEDET and the Lady who supported me a lot; I’m also very proud to myself, because I had a very hard time, but I never lose the hope that they will support me and my daughter, ahsanteni sana.”

Let’s conclude this testimony with the words from the Psychologist and Social Worker (family department) Mtahu: “because we are dedicated to serve and help weaker and marginalized people, we are ready to continue to serve and help them unconditionally”