Before I connected with the Women Spaces project, I was having disagreements with my partner, and eventually he forced me and my four children to leave our home. We also lost access to the land where we had been growing food. After that, he stopped supporting me and the children, including paying their school fees and helping provide for their basic needs. Because we had been living together but were not legally married, I did not know how to secure the support my children and I needed.

After leaving the house, I found somewhere in the area where my children and I could stay for a while. While I was there, I learned about the paralegals during a community sensitization meeting with the local chairperson. I approached them and explained the challenges I was facing.

The paralegals spoke with my partner and explained that he still had a responsibility to support our children because I was the one caring for them. They explained that he should help provide food, pay the children’s school fees, and contribute to their overall welfare. As a result, he agreed to give me and the children a portion of land where I could grow food. I was also given a written agreement confirming that the land had been provided to us, and he agreed to continue supporting the children.

Since then, my life has changed. I now have land where I can grow food for my family and earn an income. I am growing bananas, cassava, and potatoes. Three of my children are now in school, while my eldest son found work after the difficulties we experienced when we were forced to leave our home.

I have also used the income from selling my produce to start a small business selling fried cassava, pancakes, and chapatti. I have also started rearing pigs and chickens. My former partner continues to provide support for me and the children, even though I did not return to live with him.

Looking to the future, I hope to continue farming and grow my small businesses so that I can earn more income and provide a better life for my children. I also want to continue rearing pigs and chickens and use the income I earn to improve our well-being and support my children’s education.