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GRACE M.
Kibera Bowman WEEP graduate enrolled in February 2016 and graduated in August 2017. She is a mother to 2 girls. Learned of her HIV status in 2012 and also suffered from hypertension.
Before joining WEEP, Grace earned her living through casual jobs of cleaning houses and clothes. Food was scarce because of the little earnings and inconsistent work. She was feeling rejected as a result of being abandoned by the husband after she disclosed her status to him. During enrollment into the WEEP project, Grace felt sad and rejected. Her rented room was in bad shape and rent was past due. Through WEEP, Grace’s life has been transformed. She is managing the hypertension, taking antiretroviral (ARVs) medication and supplements every day, and caring for herself and her children. Her hope in future and joy were renewed and she operates a food kiosk to earn a consistent income for her family.
LINDA O.
Kibera Bowman WEEP graduate enrolled in October 2015 and graduated in August 2017. Mother of 4 children. Learned of her HIV status in 2004 and starting taking ARVs medication in 2006.
Her husband and family abandoned her when she disclosed her HIV status. She worked as a casual laborer by cleaning people’s clothes. Her children missed school most of the time due to her health and consistent lack of food. She had completely lost hope in life and a good future. The house she was living in with her children was in a bad condition with a roof that leaked, very poor ventilation and was easy to break into. Her children slept on the floor and the leaking water could interfere with bedding on the floor making her family prone to diseases.
After graduating from WEEP, she has improved in taking care of her health and that of her family, she takes ARVs and supplements and eats 3 meals daily. Linda is one of the regular suppliers of gift shop items; makes unique paper beaded necklaces, earrings, bracelets and animal carvings. She is also in the tailoring group at Kibera resource center that sews malaria prevention nets and packaging bags for sanitary towels packages.
MILYCENT C.
A Kibera Bowman WEEP graduate enrolled IN 2015 October and graduated in August 2017. She is a mother to 5 children.
After her husband died in July 2003, Rianzika remarried but separated after the birth of her last born. She knew of her HIV status in 2005 and started taking drugs in 2007. Her husband and in laws rejected her when she disclosed her HIV status. She was also a burden to her own family, who she depended on for daily bread; she was struggling with memory loss and hyperacidity. This forced her to come back to Nairobi and so as to fend for her family and herself. She then looked for casual work at construction sites, cleaning clothes at people’s homes and selling beans at the local market. Her children almost dropped out of school completely due to the endless struggles.
When she was being enrolled into the WEEP program, she lived in seclusion and fear due to her status and past due rent. She was deeply stressed and thought she would die. Her rented room was congested, tiny and cold during rainy seasons. She has shown tremendous progress and commitment and has put them into practice at the WEEP centre and in other HEART activities. She was among the guests who gave a speech during 2017 Kibera Bowman WEEP graduation ceremony and was recently selected to be the Assistant Center Coordinator at Kibera Bowman WEEP. She is also in the tailoring group at Kibera resource center that sews malaria prevention nets and packaging bags for sanitary towels packages.