Breaking Chains: Jumaso’s Journey of Change Through Savings for Transformation

Jumaso Lesharana, a mother of five from Lesirikan village, knows firsthand the struggles of child marriage. Married at 15 years old, she endured female genital mutilation (FGM) and the immense challenges of raising a family without the necessary skills or resources.

"When I got married, I was still too young to know how to raise a family," Jumaso recounts. "I underwent FGM the night before, and when I went to my new home, I experienced untold suffering."

With no source of income, Jumaso resorted to collecting and selling firewood, often returning home empty-handed and unable to feed her family. "At times, it would take me a whole day to find firewood, and sadly, not get someone to buy the load. We would sleep hungry," she says.

However, Jumaso's life took a turning point when the Big Dream to End Child Marriage program, implemented by World Vision, introduced the Savings for Transformation (S4T) initiative to her community. Jumaso was among the first to join the Nailepwa S4T group, where she and 22 other women, along with two men, were trained on how to effectively save and access loans.

"I always wanted to join a savings group, but there were none here. When World Vision came, they introduced a new concept, and I was among those who chose to join," Jumaso says with a smile.

With the skills and support provided by the Big Dream team, the Nailepwa group began saving, and Jumaso was able to take out a loan to start a small shop in her village. "Initially, it looked challenging, but I gradually mastered the art of doing business," Jumaso explains.

The group's hard work paid off when, at the end of the year 2023, they shared out a remarkable 300,000 Kshs (2321.07 USD). "As women, we had never seen such a huge amount of money, and this showed us that the solution to our problems was just right in front of us. We only needed someone to show us the way, and that was World Vision," says Doris Lempesie, the group's chairperson.

Jumaso's newfound economic empowerment has had a significant impact on her family's well-being. She was able to construct a modern house for her family, providing them with a better living environment. She is also able to provide ENOUGH nutritious food for her children, and her family now lives in harmony.

Furthermore, Jumaso and the other women in the group are determined to use their newfound knowledge and resources to protect women and girls in their community from gender-based violence, including FGM and child marriage. 

"Having undergone FGM and being married as a child, I would not wish any of my girls to undergo the pain I went through. I want them to finish school, have promising careers, and be married at the right age to husbands of their choice," Jumaso concludes with a hopeful smile. 

By David Nderitu, Communications Officer, World Vision Kenya