Millicent Aluoch is a devoted mother of five children living in Mombasa County. Her marriage was tumultuous, with Millicent sometimes seeking refuge at her parents’ house, trying to escape the violence and discord in her marriage. Yet, despite the hardships, she found herself going back to her husband, driven by her love for her children and the desire to keep the family together.

One day, after a particularly tough disagreement with her husband, Millicent ran into Joseph, a Community Health Volunteer (CHV) in Mombasa County. She confided in him, sharing her story of struggles and despair. Joseph empathized with her situation and introduced her to CREAW for support. After the much needed psychosocial assistance, Millicent was enrolled to the Jasiri Fund program.

The objective of the Jasiri Fund program was to empower survivors of GBV by providing them with access to finance, thereby strengthening their recovery and resilience in a sustainable manner. Millicent was onboarded onto the program and began her journey towards transformation.

Through Jasiri Fund, Millicent received valuable trainings on financial literacy, business management, and life skills. The support she received brought forth a newfound sense of courage and self-acceptance, empowering her to face the world with confidence.

Millicent embraced the trainings and psychosocial support, eager to step out of her comfort zone and pursue her dreams of becoming financially independent. She utilized her newfound knowledge and determination to set up and expand her own cereals shop. With the help of a Ksh. 50,000 loan from the Jasiri Fund program, Millicent added more stock to her shop, leading to increased profits. Now on a good week, she earns about Ksh. 2000, while on slow weeks, she can still make an average of Ksh. 1000, a substantial growth compared to her previous earnings which were about Ksh 500 a week.

As Millicent’s financial stability grows, she has noticed a positive change in her marital dynamics. The respect in her marriage has increased, and the violence diminished. With the new found Financial stability, she is now empowered to contribute to her family’s decisions and contributed to a more harmonious environment.

Encouraged by the growth of her business, Millicent aspires to open a wholesale shop and distribute her products across different counties in the country. She has become an inspiration not only to other women facing gender-based violence but also to anyone striving to improve their circumstances and contribute to their family’s growth.

With gratitude in her heart, Millicent thanks the Jasiri Fund for being there when she needed it the most. She encourages other women enduring similar struggles to find their strength and pursue opportunities that would empower them to break free from the cycle of violence.