We Fixed Leaking Roof

Benedicta Ekwuma, lives with her sick husband in a small thatched house, tucked in Akpoha community, Afikpo, Ebonyi state. The man has been sick and incapacitated for more than 10years. The 63-year-old could not go back to her farm because of the extent of destruction during the 2022 flood. Benedicta is the sole provider for her husband and 7 children. Her day begins as early as 5:30am; she does nothing much than pray and hope, if it’s a lucky day, she’ll prepare breakfast from the remnant left over the night, she has no need to prepare her children for school; “they are all grown and have abandoned me with their sick father” she wailed. As soon as it clocks 6am, she begins a two hours trek to the farm where she works as a labourer. “I will work from 8 am to 5pm to earn one thousand two hundred naira (N1,200). By the time I get back from the farm my hips are hurting and my whole body is in pains” Benedicta is left with no option, she either serve as labourer in a farm or return to her farm which has remained a swamp dump. Her worries are many, but one pressing challenge is the leaking roof in her cracking mud house: “I need help to fix the roof, anytime it rains, I get worried because the house will be flooded” she cried for help. As a response to her cry for help, The Sun Media Foundation provided assistance for her to replace the roofing sheets.