Lucy’s Home Feels Lighter Now
When Lucy talks about her home today, she uses a word she never would have used before: light.
Lucy is 39 and a single mother of three, also caring for her nephew. After separating from her husband seven years ago, she returned to her family’s ancestral home in Kole District. Like many parents carrying heavy responsibility on their own, Lucy felt overwhelmed. Parenting felt hard. Communication was strained. Love, she believed, might make children weak or undisciplined.
Through Otem Collective’s Parent Support Groups, Lucy began to see parenting differently. She learned practical tools for communication, emotional regulation, and consistent parenting—and slowly, those tools changed the atmosphere of her home.
Today, Lucy’s children talk openly with her. Evenings are filled with laughter instead of tension. Lucy shares, “I used to think that loving children spoils them, but now I have realized that it helps you understand them better and plan for their future.”
The change didn’t stop with parenting. Last year, Lucy received maize seeds and agricultural training. Before then, she couldn’t always afford school fees for all of her children, but her harvest was so abundant that, for the first time, every child in her care was able to attend school. This year, Lucy plans to reinvest part of her harvest to start a small business.
And through her savings group, Lucy’s understanding of money has also shifted. Where she once saved irregularly and without a plan, she now saves with clear goals. After saving consistently for a year, Lucy received her savings this month. She’s excited to use her savings on school fees and livestock investments that will continue to strengthen her family over time.
Lucy’s story is one of steady transformation—not overnight change, but meaningful, lasting growth shaped by practical skills and consistent support.
When parents are equipped and families are supported, homes become more stable. Children are able to stay where they belong in safer, more connected families where they can grow and thrive.
Lucy after a savings group meeting.