For 43 years, 83-year-old Hellen lived in a cramped, 10×10-foot shack in Kibera—one of Africa’s largest informal settlements. But for Hellen, the lack of plumbing or electricity wasn’t the hardest part. It was the isolation.
Following the tragic loss of her two children in infancy, and the subsequent death of her husband, Hellen was stripped of her inheritance and cast out by her in-laws. The reason? A deeply entrenched cultural stigma surrounding her inability to bear surviving children.
Hellen’s only hope was to return to her ancestral village. However, she hit another barrier: a local taboo known as Migogo. In many traditional rural communities, it is believed that a woman who leaves her marital home cannot return to her birth village, lest she bring a “bad omen” upon the community.
Hellen was stuck in limbo—until IDAK stepped in.
Breaking Barriers and Rewriting Rules
The IDAK team launched intensive mediation sessions with Hellen’s extended family. Through dialogue, education, and faith, the cultural walls began to crumble. The breakthrough came when Hellen’s nephew courageously bucked tradition and gifted his aunt a quarter-acre of land.
The clock was ticking. Local customs dictated the house had to be finished before the planting season. While the team respected the timeline, they stood firm on their core values: this house would be built on faith and modern justice, not superstitious demands.
Defying the Elements
The build was a race against time, nature, and engineering:
- The Weather: The night before groundbreaking, torrential rains soaked the region. Far from being discouraged, the team and family viewed it as a blessing and gathered at dawn to dig through the mud.
- The Soil: The plot was sitting on “Black Cotton soil,” a notoriously unstable clay that expands and cracks. To ensure the house wouldn’t collapse, the team pivoted, trucking in high-quality murram (gravelly soil) from a distant quarry.
- The Hustle: Labourers worked gruelling 12-hour shifts. By the end of Day One, the structure was already 65% complete.
Over the next three weeks, the team reinforced the floors against dampness and added secure windows and doors. What started as an empty plot became a sturdy, dignified three-room home complete with a living room, bedroom, and kitchen space.
A Place to Call Home
Today, Hellen is officially moved in. A woman who was told she didn’t belong anywhere finally has a sanctuary of her own.
“I never imagined this day would come,” Hellen said, fighting back tears. “I can now live and rest peacefully in my own space. God bless you.”
A Message from Our Director
This miracle was made possible by you. Reflecting on the project, IDAK Director Rev. Kenyanito shared his deepest gratitude:
“We want to thank everyone who sacrificed and donated to our ‘Big Give Campaign’ last December. Your response was overwhelming. You acted as Good Samaritans for a widow whose dreams had been shattered for over six decades. Hellen can dream again. Let’s keep journeying together as we serve humanity.”
