Maria Atieno Salome was born on February 20, 1960, in Tiriki, Vihiga County. Her family later relocated to Shikhambi in Kakamega County. She was one of six children, and only three of her siblings are still alive today.Maria's formal education was limited, ending after just three years of school. Due to her family's limited financial resources, she had to stay home to assist with domestic tasks and help her mother with farming.Following her schooling, Maria worked at home, helping her mother grow crops to earn a meager income. She supported her family by farming vegetables and selling them at the market.She married in Ugenya and had three children, but sadly, two of them passed away. She later separated from her husband and returned to her ancestral home. There, she had two more children, who also passed away, leaving her responsible for the care of her four grandchildren.Maria's connection with Mama Ibado began when prospective land buyers, noticing her difficult living conditions, shared her story online. This led to representatives from Mama Ibado's organization visiting her home and enrolling her in their food assistance program. Each month, she now receives a package of essential food items from Mama Ibado, including rice, flour, uji flour, tea leaves, sugar, and salt.Thanks to Mama Ibado's support, Maria experiences significantly less stress about obtaining food.Despite this help, Maria's health is declining. She struggles with back and knee pain, which makes it difficult for her to work. With four grandchildren in school, she requires assistance to improve her housing situation, access medical care, and ensure her grandchildren can continue their education.
