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When Popy’s daughter was born and Popy’s friends and family realised that she had Cerebral Palsy, they could not accept her as part of the family and they turned their backs on her and Popy. As a result of this isolation from her family, Popy’s mental health deteriorated. She also struggled financially and could not arrange any treatment for her daughter or afford good, nutritious food for them both.

After hearing about our work and learning that there were other people out there in the same situation as her, Popy joined her local Carers Group and she is now an active member, encouraging others to attend and playing a part in arranging the meetings for the group.

She also took advantage of our livelihood training, receiving training on how to set up and run a small clothing business, and taking out a small loan from the Carers Group to make it a reality. She was able to return the loan to the group for them to pass onto the next carer and made a success of the business. She now dreams of one day owning her own shop.

Read more about Popy’s story.

Ayna cares for her teenage grandson who has cerebral palsy. She was left in sole charge of her grandson when his father’s family could not accept his disability and his mother was unable to look after him. Ayna has had to face stigma and isolation from her family and the community because of her dedication to her grandson.

Ayna became involved in our carers’ project with our local charity partner Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) when it began and quickly became an active member of her local carers group. She describes the other group members as her friends and they in turn look out for her and her grandson. A network of peers like this is vital when a carer does not have the support of other family members.

Caring has taken its toll on Ayna’s physical health and she has been living with constant knee and back pain. She has received medical treatment for her joint problems via the project’s health camps.

Ayna has not been able to earn an income while caring for her grandson and as she gets older, her options become even more limited. CDD staff recognised that Ayna was more than capable and very motivated to be involved in the project’s livelihoods project, so she attended training on poultry rearing and was given five hens. After three months, she had earned enough through selling eggs to buy fifteen more hens, and now she has added goats to her smallholding.

Read more about Ayna’s story.