Women Training Impacting Widows in Kisumu - The Ch…
When CMS-Africa’s Champion Margaret Oluoch first met the Kikako group in Kisumu, they were landless and penniless. The widows in these parts of the world are referred to as “tied to the grave”, and, tragically, this isn’t far from the truth. The idea that women are by definition dependent on men runs deep across Africa and worsens when the men die leaving women and children behind.
Kikako women group was formed by such widows in Kisumu County who had been dispossessed off their lands and property after their husbands passed away.
Margaret organized for a women training to be undertaken by CMS-Africa for these widows in May 2018 and since then she has walked with them, discipling, mentoring and giving them opportunities to excel not just in their Christian life but in real life circumstances like business.
CMS-Africa gives women the tools to take control of their own lives through a biblical, practical courses like entrepreneurship. The Women Training covers identity in Christ, basic nutrition, family relationships, financial planning, business skills and entrepreneurship. For Lucy Ochieng, who leads the course, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing women untied from the grave and male oppression, and flourishing as a result of this powerful trainings.
One of the key results of the training for the Kikako Women Group is that after the training, the women and windows went and registered as a group- Kikako to champion the plight of the landless and widows in the 3 select areas. They are keen to work together as a team and thus are trusting God to seek new partnerships and friends to boost their business ventures
Mercy Awino Story
One of the members of this group was the 38-year-old Mercy Awino. Mercy who is a single mother 2 kids. When her relationship ended, she didn’t know where to start and what to do but the Kikako group under the mentorship of CMS-Africa champion Margaret picked her up, molded her and thrust her into business.
Being in the Lakeside town of Kisumu in Western Kenya, the biggest business industry is fish mongering and Mercy though young and very beautiful by all standards decided to try her luck in it. “I couldn’t choose work when my hubby died. All I needed is to put food on the table for children. Many said to me that selling fish is for older women but for me, it was my only way to earn a living and I thank God for granting great success thus far,” says Mercy.
When CMS-Africa’s John Ndeta visited her in February 2019, Mercy had expanded her business cutting across buying from the fishermen, Parking the fish on big lorries and taking it for processing in a fish factory and then receiving the final products from the factory and marketing them to local and markets as far as Mombasa, the Coastal town of Kenya 500 Kilometers. Once the fish is taken to the factory and byproducts which include the fish-fillets, the skin, the bile as well as the bones, Mercy takes them to the various market outlets she has established including the Fish market at the heart of Kisumu town.
To sustain her business, Mercy buys fish from the fishermen and delivers several tones to the factory for processing. This is a huge capital investment and Mercy has managed to build this over the years from savings and even taking loans which she has to apply some of the disciplines learnt in the women training like proper recording keeping to keep her business afloat.
The other challenge she has had to deal with is influx of fish at certain points that goes to waste then sometimes the demand is too high than the supply. Mercy is trusting upon God to acquire a cold room where she can store the surplus and a track that is able to transport the fish to various towns when fresh. To do this Mercy has vividly recalls that savings is what will take her there and she shares how she is doing this. My main saving is in the form of merry-go-round alongside 20 other business people. Each of them gives 5000 each per month which is given to one of them to further their businesses.
From this business, Mercy has managed to buy her own land, build a modern house and educate her children up to secondary school and even University. “My first born is now in her final year of study at the University and I have educated her myself from my business proceeds,” says Mercy.
Mercy affirms that “through this business I have been able to do more than my husband was doing or would have ever done for me and my children if he was alive.”
When I asked her how much she makes, Mercy said she handles over Ksh.400, 000 in a month when the business is in good shape. Her business provides employment and livelihood to over 12 people who are grateful to Mercy for giving them their daily bread.
Kikako women group was formed by such widows in Kisumu County who had been dispossessed off their lands and property after their husbands passed away.
Margaret organized for a women training to be undertaken by CMS-Africa for these widows in May 2018 and since then she has walked with them, discipling, mentoring and giving them opportunities to excel not just in their Christian life but in real life circumstances like business.
CMS-Africa gives women the tools to take control of their own lives through a biblical, practical courses like entrepreneurship. The Women Training covers identity in Christ, basic nutrition, family relationships, financial planning, business skills and entrepreneurship. For Lucy Ochieng, who leads the course, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing women untied from the grave and male oppression, and flourishing as a result of this powerful trainings.
One of the key results of the training for the Kikako Women Group is that after the training, the women and windows went and registered as a group- Kikako to champion the plight of the landless and widows in the 3 select areas. They are keen to work together as a team and thus are trusting God to seek new partnerships and friends to boost their business ventures
Mercy Awino Story
One of the members of this group was the 38-year-old Mercy Awino. Mercy who is a single mother 2 kids. When her relationship ended, she didn’t know where to start and what to do but the Kikako group under the mentorship of CMS-Africa champion Margaret picked her up, molded her and thrust her into business.
Being in the Lakeside town of Kisumu in Western Kenya, the biggest business industry is fish mongering and Mercy though young and very beautiful by all standards decided to try her luck in it. “I couldn’t choose work when my hubby died. All I needed is to put food on the table for children. Many said to me that selling fish is for older women but for me, it was my only way to earn a living and I thank God for granting great success thus far,” says Mercy.
When CMS-Africa’s John Ndeta visited her in February 2019, Mercy had expanded her business cutting across buying from the fishermen, Parking the fish on big lorries and taking it for processing in a fish factory and then receiving the final products from the factory and marketing them to local and markets as far as Mombasa, the Coastal town of Kenya 500 Kilometers. Once the fish is taken to the factory and byproducts which include the fish-fillets, the skin, the bile as well as the bones, Mercy takes them to the various market outlets she has established including the Fish market at the heart of Kisumu town.
To sustain her business, Mercy buys fish from the fishermen and delivers several tones to the factory for processing. This is a huge capital investment and Mercy has managed to build this over the years from savings and even taking loans which she has to apply some of the disciplines learnt in the women training like proper recording keeping to keep her business afloat.
The other challenge she has had to deal with is influx of fish at certain points that goes to waste then sometimes the demand is too high than the supply. Mercy is trusting upon God to acquire a cold room where she can store the surplus and a track that is able to transport the fish to various towns when fresh. To do this Mercy has vividly recalls that savings is what will take her there and she shares how she is doing this. My main saving is in the form of merry-go-round alongside 20 other business people. Each of them gives 5000 each per month which is given to one of them to further their businesses.
From this business, Mercy has managed to buy her own land, build a modern house and educate her children up to secondary school and even University. “My first born is now in her final year of study at the University and I have educated her myself from my business proceeds,” says Mercy.
Mercy affirms that “through this business I have been able to do more than my husband was doing or would have ever done for me and my children if he was alive.”
When I asked her how much she makes, Mercy said she handles over Ksh.400, 000 in a month when the business is in good shape. Her business provides employment and livelihood to over 12 people who are grateful to Mercy for giving them their daily bread.