Poverty limits your vision of the future. When every day is a struggle, it is hard to dream. Ambitions are set aside in favour of immediate needs. You learn not to hope for too much, not to reach too high, for fear of disappointment. The world feels closed off, opportunities reserved for others. Yet, even in the darkest moments, a spark remains—a stubborn belief that things can change, holding on to a promise, that you can break free from the claws that hold you.

The road to empowerment is often unpaved — and for girls, it’s barely a visible line in the dirt. Girls in many countries face a variety of unique challenges through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood — from unequal access to education, to household responsibilities, even just having a period. Long-held tribal and cultural practices can also factor into the social climate, once again adding additional challenge onto the simple act of existing as a woman.

Gloria comes from Ginga Village, West Uyoma Location, Kagwa sub-location. After her mother's husband passed away in 2013, she got into a relationship with a man from the village and from that relationship Gloria was born on September 27, 2015. She is the youngest of four siblings. The relationship between her mother and father did not last - they ended up separating. They had conflict because he would not provide for the family and would only depend on what Gloria's mother could provide. Her mother struggled to provide for the family, relying on seasonal, low-paying jobs. This financial hardship forced Gloria’s eldest sibling to drop out of school, and the family often could not meet basic needs.

From Kipsongo village, Bondeni location, in Trans-Nzoia County, Imani and her siblings lived with their 42-year-old mother in a one-room rental house, situated next to a pool of filthy water in an area full of illicit brewing and substance abuse. Their mother would take on casual jobs to earn a living and occasionally sold illicit brew, which sometimes led to her arrest or forced her to hide from security officers for several days, leaving the children alone. Often, they were evicted from their home when she failed to pay rent on time. The children's school attendance was inconsistent, and their academic performance deteriorated significantly.

The proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”, is deeply ingrained in the African culture. Neighbourly intervention in a child's misbehaviour is a norm, and children may freely visit neighbours’ homes, and if a family is eating, the child will be warmly welcomed to join the meal, even without an invitation – it doesn’t matter if they prepared enough food or not, they will always have something to share. Resource sharing is an important aspect of communal spirit, prioritizing care irrespective of socioeconomic status. Think of knocking on your neighbour’s door at 8pm to borrow salt.

The sugarcane fields seemed like the perfect place to disappear – or so Grace hoped. She ran through the rows of canes, which arched high above her head and blocked out everything except bits of sunlight. She wasn’t very far away; the sugarcane farm stood next to the home she lived in with her family. But Grace wasn’t hiding in the fields as a game – she was hiding to survive.

A nutritious, diverse diet has untold power in the life of a child. Food empowers children to learn in school, fuels their bodies to grow and develop, and reduces the risk of disease. 

Food insecurity often acts as a barrier to these things. Baba Nyumbani staff understand the importance of nutritious meals, especially for children who often come into our care undernourished and malnourished.