Poline’s Story

Poline (right) planning her group in Ahero with other leaders

When we met Poline, she lived in the slum on the outskirts of Kisumu. Her life has been tough; bereavement and poverty have taken their toll on her physical and mental health. Her husband died in a flood, leaving her alone to bring up their four children, two of whom were severely disabled.

Her son died during the pandemic but she still cares for her daughter who has the mental age of a pre-school child but is a young adult. This makes her very vulnerable to exploitation – sexual and otherwise.

Sickness is a nightmare in these communities. A government healthcare card entitles people to treatment at hospitals and clinics. But it costs about 400 Kenyan shillings a month, so is often not taken up. Poline could never afford such a card.

When Poline heard the Lullaby Africa teaching in 2011, she loved it. She understood how it could help her, her two independent children and her disabled daughter. Since then, she has also used it to help other mums in the community.

She struggled in Kisumu because of her poverty. Her only income came from selling a few bits of fish on the streets. This was always tough. During the Covid lockdown, it was nigh on impossible.

As a result, Poline moved back to Ahero in the rural when her son died. Lullaby Africa always visited her and prayed for her when we were in Kisumu. And of course, our local leaders, Lilian and Joseph, helped her transition to her new home.

She came back to the city for our leaders’ day where she formed a partnership with Catherine. The two of them are soon to teach baby bonding and start a Lullaby Africa support group in Ahero.