The Woman who made the difference in my life

While many thought she was a weak being, to those lives she has touched positively like me, feel she stood out and still does stand out strong among many women. How I wish many women meet her, emulate her strong will and drive in order to make a difference in their lives and those of other girls and women. This is my mother my friend. She was in her late thirties and between her and her husband (our father) life was not as easy.

It all started with my father loosing his job. It was devastating it felt like life had come to a stand still. Things became unbearable a life that reflected my struggles in raising school fees for my high school.

I remember this day she gave me some money to do shopping for my school needs. I attended a boarding school. I could see how hard it was for her to spread out her monthly earnings to cater for all the family needs. As I traveled back to school I remembered the looks on my mothers eyes which to me was an expression of her wishing I could see her struggles and give back to her in terms of performance. I knew this look on her face for she had told me that before . this time she did not talk but handed me the money without saying much. \"Have this, it is what I can afford to give you for now\".

When I started working I realized that some women were going through similar difficult situations.  Selina (not her real name ) was going through a very hard time. Her husband lost his job and had started drinking and engaging himself in a lot of alcohol drinking. This he said was due to frustrations.

She had nothing to give her family. Things had started getting worse. Her sisters advised her to move out and find someone wealthy to cater for her needs. She had never been unfaithful. There was no food for her family. She thought of the man who had previously made advances on her and decided to look for him for help. She eventually, found him and she explained to him that she was in dire need of money. \"I will give you, on condition that you meet my needs\".

Selina, thought about her husband and their children. No, I have never done this before. She stared at the man and asked him , \"What if I were your daughter and you my father, What would you have done?' The man responded, there is nothing wrong in that for as long as I can help you. With those words Selina decided to leave. Fortunately, she had agreed to meet him at an open ground.

On her way back home she thought of her husband and their children. No, I will not go back home empty handed. She thought of her many women friends whom she had helped many times. She decided to approach one of them. Selina, narrated her story to her friend who eventually organized, advanced her some money and later introduced her to a Women Economic Empowerment group where she got a loan to start her own business.

Her life changed and improved a lot. The husband got himself another job and their life became better every day. They repaid the loan, bought a family house and they no longer worried about school needs for their children.

In life things can change. Situations can be terrible. It depends on our own will to change those situations and to say NO to those that make us vulnerable. Also, for us as sisters we should always stand out to help those that need our help. It can be advice, it can be some valuable resources or moral support. Let us all be there for one another. Holding each woman's hand without ever getting tired of each other. Creating a stronger supportive Women's body, network and or movement at all times.

Well... Well...these are situations of the past that we can sometimes reflect back to help us appreciate where we were or what happened but have not stopped us from achieving a good life. 

Today, my mother is a retired teacher.  We still discuss her experiences with those she taught some of which are hilarious. She narrates the tough times and cracked jokes about them. A proof that we can change our lives and those of others if we are determined to do so.

I celebrate every woman, every where in the World any situation. I love you and say to you be proud of yourself as we share this Women's Day 2019. May you all shine