Restoring Dignity to Widows and Widowers
“Some days, they can’t afford a single meal. But they still show up, hoping.”
On 7th April, 2025, our team met 100 of the 145 resilient members of the Bomatara Widows and Widowers Group in the quiet heart of Embassy village of Nyakoe location of Kisii County. These 145 widows and widowers gather every Monday morning for 1 hour weekly—not just to share stories, but to save, dream, and survive.
When they started, each member was contributing just KES 20 per month, ( USD 15.5 CENTS). This contribution has now been raised to KES 50, (USD 2.58 cents) a bold move to uplift one another economically.
But some members miss meetings not out of choice but due to sickness or hunger others struggle to afford three meals a day while others battle loneliness, forgotten by society after their spouses’ death. But they still show up. Still, they save. Still, they believe, their spirit remains unbroken.
That day, we did more than listen. We paid half of the group’s April contributions, covering those too sick or poor to contribute we left not just with gratitude but with a plan.
Action Smiles International Director Richard Onkware presenting empowerment brochures to the Bomatara Widows and Widowers’ to the group Chairperson Mrs. Zipporah Siro, looking on is Secretary Glady Bosibori
Our Shared Vision: From Surviving to Thriving
We co-designed three simple but empowering strategies with the group to turn hardship into hope:
- Napier Grass Farming for Cattle Feeding – Lease a community land, plant napier grass and, harvest up to 3 times a year. Local demand for cattle feed is rising this means real income, fast and meaningful . We looking forward to sourcing same minded partners to make thus a success.
- A Group Owned-Posho Mill – Milling is a daily need in the community. A posho mill will generate a steady income for the group to be saved and shared annually while reducing food processing cost.
- Welfare Fund – Ensures food, access to health care, and dignity for the sick and poorest, the kitty is managed by three trustees who are members of the group.
The dream is alive. The strategy is clear. What’s missing? A partner like you.With your support, we can:
- Lease farmland and plant the first crop.
- Buy a posho mill and train members in running it.
- Build a revolving fund for emergency food and medical relief.
- Cater for the sick, hungry and aged.
- Train them on self-reliance, their rights and basic hygiene practices and means of attaining self reliance.
Botamara Widows and Widowers Chairperson, Mrs. Zipporah Siro (in trousers) consulting with group Secretary Mrs. Gladys Bosibori during a meeting held to verify the register of members