Grace's Story.
Grace* was married thirty-four years before her husband began illegally selling their property. They visited WOMEDA for counseling, but after her 60 km walk home, she discovered that her husband had removed her roof, windows, and front door from her house, leaving her with nowhere safe to go.
He set about turning their community against her. The police, government officials, and clan elders were on his side. She had no support for their children and the family assets she had acquired were taken. She was forced to sleep outside in a makeshift hut with a grass roof.
Grace visted WOMEDA a second time and returned to her community with WOMEDA's Executive Director and legal expert, Juma Masisi. Juma gather Grace, her husband, and community officials, and helped them form an agreement restoring Grace to her home. Now Grace has secure shelter for herself and her children, assets to build an independent life, and optimism for her family's future.
Grace's story is not unique, but she is fortunate to have had WOMEDA's support. If WOMEDA was not there to assist her in her time of crisis, it's likely she would still be homeless and unsafe today.
*Name changed to protect identity of client.