From Rations to Riches: How One Mother Fed Her Family and Built a Future
Kalobeyei, 23 June 2026
Akitela Epong, a 37-year-old mother of seven in Kenya’s Kalobeyei settlement, turned despair into opportunity after her husband’s death. With training from a refugee-led farming initiative, she now grows enough food to feed her children and earns extra income—proving that resilience and support can rewrite a family’s story.
A Widow’s Burden and a Mother’s Resolve
In the arid expanse of Kalobeyei Settlement, Turkana County, where the wind carries whispers of both hardship and hope, Akitela Epong stands as a testament to resilience. At 37, she is the sole provider for her seven children, a role she was thrust into following the death of her husband in 2022 [1]. ‘Mimi bwanangu aliaga mwaka wa 2022, nikaachwa na watoto saba ambao wananitegemea,’ she recalls, her voice steady despite the weight of her words [1]. Two of her children attend secondary school, one on a scholarship, while the others navigate the challenges of junior secondary and primary education—each term bringing the familiar strain of school fees and uniforms [1].
Seeds of Change: The Wezesha Project
The turning point came in 2023 when Akitela joined the Wezesha project, a programme designed to empower women from both refugee and host communities through sustainable agriculture and business training [1]. The initiative, which supports 24 women in Kalobeyei, provided her with the tools and knowledge to cultivate a small plot of land, transforming her approach to food security and income generation [1]. ‘Majina yangu ni Akitela Epong, miaka 37 na mama wa watoto saba. Mimi ni mkaaji wa Kalobeyei, hapa kwa host community,’ she introduces herself, her pride evident as she speaks of her newfound independence [1].
From Subsistence to Surplus: A New Chapter
Today, Akitela’s farm yields more than just sustenance; it produces surplus. The vegetables she grows—kale, spinach, and tomatoes—now grace her family’s table, improving their nutrition and reducing their reliance on food rations [1]. The surplus is sold at local markets, generating additional income that has eased the financial strain of school fees and household expenses. ‘I no longer worry about how to feed my children or pay for their education,’ she says, a smile breaking through her composed demeanour [1]. The transformation is not just economic but emotional, as Akitela reclaims agency over her family’s future.
Community and Collaboration: The Bedrock of Progress
The success of Akitela and Ubeling is not isolated. It is part of a growing ecosystem of support that includes organisations like the Refugee Consortium of Kenya, Farm Africa, and the IKEA Foundation, among others. On World Refugee Day 2026, celebrated on 20 June, these partnerships were highlighted as essential in turning safety into opportunity for thousands of families in Kakuma and Kalobeyei [5]. The theme of the day—‘From Safety to Opportunity’—resonated deeply in Kalobeyei, where initiatives like Wezesha and DREEM are proving that with the right support, refugees and host communities can build prosperous futures together [5].