Her name is Ann Mary Akinyi. She is now 30 years old, but came to the Women Like Us Centre when she was 29. Like many other women at the center, her story is filled with abuse and tragedy.
Ann Mary was married to an abusive man for 3 years. Her husband would beat her on a daily basis. He would also bring other women to their home, and force her to sleep on the floor. On top of that, she was not able to produce a child. This caused even more mental abuse from her husband’s family.
She was introduced to the Women Like Us Centre by a friend and began getting counseling and joined group discussions on abuse. Soon afterwards, she became part of the fashion and design group at the center. Ann Mary learned to make clothing that she could sell. She eventually earned enough money that allowed her to leave her husband.
Along with sewing she has also learned to make soap, bhajia ( a crispy snack) and doing hair. With the money she earns she is able to take care of herself and send her younger sister, whom she has also introduced to the center, to school. One of the biggest barriers to education in Kenya is the system. Schools in Kenya are private which prevents those that don’t have any money from sending their children to be educated.
Thanks to the center, Ann Mary is also learning to break the cycle that has plagued her family. Her father also physically and mentally abused her mother. Her mother had no earning skills and was left to take care of the home and 9 children.
Ann Mary is very ambitious. Her future goals are to have her own brand of soap, open a salon and clothing store. She also wants to be a peer counselor for other women who have suffered like her.
We are all rooting for her success. With a $55 dollar donation a month, we can help Ann Mary from becoming a victim again and achieving her life goals.
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