|
Atengi Veritas: A Story of Hope and Transformation
When we first met Atengi Veritas in 2000, she had endured unimaginable loss. Widowed herself, she had also lost both her son and daughter-in-law to AIDS, leaving her to raise her young granddaughter and grandson alone. Atengi was doing everything she could to provide for her family. They survived on just half an acre of land and lived in two grass-thatched huts with roofs so badly damaged that the sky was visible through the holes. We were able to help with emergency food supplies and new roofing, but it was clear that lasting change would require more than short-term assistance. That opportunity came through Pastor Robert Adiba, who proposed forming a cooperative of 26 widows. Each woman would cultivate one acre of cassava on her own land, earning an income from her work. Rather than relying on ongoing aid, the women began building a sustainable future through their own determination and hard work. |
|
The cooperative quickly grew from 26 to 102 members. In 2003, a small grinding mill was established, enabling the women to process their cassava and add value to their harvest. A cattle-restocking project followed in 2006, providing families with valuable livestock, and the cooperative’s continued success led to the installation of a larger grinding mill in 2008.
The impact has been life-changing. Food and clothing are no longer daily worries, and many members have built permanent brick homes and can afford to send their children to school. One member celebrated her son’s graduation from university—an achievement that would have seemed impossible just a decade earlier. The grinding mill continues to operate successfully and has been regularly maintained and upgraded to support the growing enterprise.
Today, every member of the cooperative owns cattle. Atengi herself now lives in a brick home with a corrugated iron roof and has expanded her herd from the single cow she received through the cattle project. Her grandchildren completed their education and are now adults. The cattle she raised even provided the dowry that enabled her grandson to marry.
Atengi’s story is a powerful example of what can be achieved when practical support is combined with determination, opportunity, and community. Through the Kabwalin Widows and Orphans Group, she and hundreds of other widows have transformed their lives, creating lasting hope and a brighter future for the generations that follow.
The impact has been life-changing. Food and clothing are no longer daily worries, and many members have built permanent brick homes and can afford to send their children to school. One member celebrated her son’s graduation from university—an achievement that would have seemed impossible just a decade earlier. The grinding mill continues to operate successfully and has been regularly maintained and upgraded to support the growing enterprise.
Today, every member of the cooperative owns cattle. Atengi herself now lives in a brick home with a corrugated iron roof and has expanded her herd from the single cow she received through the cattle project. Her grandchildren completed their education and are now adults. The cattle she raised even provided the dowry that enabled her grandson to marry.
Atengi’s story is a powerful example of what can be achieved when practical support is combined with determination, opportunity, and community. Through the Kabwalin Widows and Orphans Group, she and hundreds of other widows have transformed their lives, creating lasting hope and a brighter future for the generations that follow.
