Sumaya’s Story

Sumaya is the last born into a family of six children and lives with her mother and her older sister Nancha. Sumaya’s father died just after she was born. Her mother Claire has tried to provide for her family, but feeding all six children proved impossible for her to do. The four elder sons have all left the family and are living on the streets, looking for their own way of survival. Claire has kept her two daughters with her as she tries to protect them from being married off at a young age. Sumaya and her sister Nancha go to work with their mother tending their neighbors’ gardens or washing clothes for people. The two girls and their mother have moved around a lot as they were often evicted from their home due to unpaid rent. In 2020, a kind neighbor offered an old mud hut for the family to live in, free of rent, however the hut was in bad condition and would fill with water during the rainy season. To make matters worse, after some time, the owner began requesting rent for the home as well. Claire and her daughters yearn for an education and though it has been difficult, both girls have attended classes on and off throughout the years. Neither Nancha or Sumaya has been able to collect a graduation certificate, from any level, due to school fees being unpaid but they have tried to at least gain an education.

In 2021, PFP stepped in to offer a hand up. They are now renting in a safer space and PFP is working with Claire to build her own business selling matooke and other garden items. PFP is working hand in hand with Claire to provide the opportunity for both Nancha and Sumaya to attend school. Life is looking up for Sumaya and her family, and they hope that by working together they will all be able to rise up out of the poverty they were born into. Sumaya hopes to become a clothing model one day so that she can have fun while earning enough money to live comfortably and help other people who don’t have any support.