Lucy

As the youngest of ten children, Lucy and her siblings finished primary school but had to drop out when their parents could no longer afford the school fees. She lived at home and worked until she had her first child at the age of 20. She was married at the age of 22 and shortly after had two more children. While she and her husband have been able to send their youngest two children to primary school and their eldest to secondary, it has been difficult to pay for their school fees.

 

When it rains, they sell green grams and sorgums in addition to the baskets that Lucy makes. They also buy, raise, and sell goats to supplement their income when its needed. During the dry season, however, they have to wait to pay school fees until she sells enough baskets.

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Lucy enjoys being a part of the Adult Literacy program and making baskets. The other women have taught her the importance of family and how to support them. She is happiest when it rains and when she sells baskets because that is when she knows she can provide for her family