Mary Wambui Maina, aged 69, is the wife of Joseph Maina. The couple is blessed with eleven children. Her journey of transformation began in 2005 when she and her husband discovered that they were HIV positive — a revelation that initially brought fear and uncertainty into their lives.

However, Mary’s life took a positive turn when she became an active member of the Karai Support Group, where she found a safe space, gained hope, and learned valuable skills on positive living, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods.

In 2006, Mary received a precious gift — a dairy goat — from ASN Upendo Village. The goat proved to be a blessing, giving birth to a male and a female kid. Understanding the promise these animals held for her family’s future, she took great care of them. The milk provided not only nutrition for her family but also a source of income and sustainability. As part of her commitment, she returned one female kid to ASN Upendo Village as required.

Over time, the goat gave birth five times, including one set of twins. Mary sold some of the grown goats, including a few to ASN Upendo Village during a goat distribution event. The proceeds from these sales enabled her to start farming, marking the beginning of her journey toward economic empowerment.

The manure from her livestock became a vital asset, enriching her farm’s soil and boosting productivity. Her farming efforts thrived, and with time, her family’s living standards improved.

Mary’s son, Elijah, benefited from ASN Upendo Village’s sponsorship program, completing his education up to college level, where he studied mechanics. Elijah successfully graduated and secured employment, contributing to the family’s income and overall stability.

Encouraged by her success, Mary took a leap of faith and applied for a Ksh 15,000 loan to invest in onion farming. Her first harvest was a success, allowing her to repay the loan in full. She then took another loan of Ksh 20,000 to expand her operations, which she again repaid successfully.

As her farming business grew, Mary realized the need for irrigation equipment. She applied for a larger Ksh 42,000 loan to purchase a water pump generator and to dig a dam for water storage. These investments revolutionized her farming, enabling her to irrigate her crops consistently, even during the dry season.

Her hard work and determination paid off — her yields increased, providing a reliable income that allowed her to put food on the table, pay school fees, and save for emergencies. She successfully repaid all her loans and built a solid foundation for her family’s future.

Mary’s story is one of resilience, empowerment, and transformation. Through her partnership with ASN Upendo Village, she has turned challenges into opportunities, breaking the cycle of poverty and inspiring others in her community.

She is deeply grateful to ASN Upendo Village for the dairy goat that started it all, the nutrition supplements, sponsorship support, and continued empowerment.

It is our hope that more clients get empowered and become self-reliant to break the cycle of poverty.