Julia Wanjiru Ndungu is a 50-year-old widow and a mother of four. After the heartbreaking loss of her husband to an HIV-related illness, Julia’s life was filled with uncertainty. Yet, despite the hardships, she has managed to build a better future for herself and her family through determination and hard work.

Her transformative journey began in 2007 when she became an active participant in the Mirera Support Group. Through this group, she gained not only emotional support but also valuable resources that helped her turn her life around.

In 2011, she received a gift — a dairy goat. The goat proved its worth by giving birth to a male and a female kid, providing much-needed milk for her family’s nutrition and becoming a sustainable source of income. The goat gave birth five times, including two sets of twins, and Julia was able to sell three male goats once they matured. With the proceeds from these sales, she made a life-changing decision to begin building a permanent four-room house for her family.

The manure from her livestock also became a precious resource, enriching her farm’s soil and boosting productivity. Despite the heavy burdens of single motherhood, Julia worked tirelessly to ensure her children’s well-being. She took on casual jobs to pay school fees and provide for her family. Her persistence paid off when she secured a steady job at a flower farm, which allowed her to achieve financial stability.

With her new income, Julia decided to invest in a donkey, which became a valuable asset for transporting goods and supplying water using a cart — creating another source of income. Through empowerment and financial management training offered in her support group, Julia successfully secured a Ksh 100,000 loan in 2023 from the flower farm company to continue building her house.

Through discipline and good financial management, she has already repaid 90% of the loan and looks forward to securing another to complete her home.

Julia expresses deep gratitude to ASN Upendo Village for the initial gift of a dairy goat that started her transformation. She also appreciates the organization for supporting her with improved chicken, a water tank, monthly nutrition supplements, and continuous empowerment.

Julia’s life stands as a shining example of how resilience in the face of hardship, combined with empowerment and wise investments, can lead to lasting prosperity and hope.

It is our hope that more clients continue to be empowered and become self-reliant, breaking the cycle of poverty.