Written by Steven Ashuma, CFK Africa Community Storyteller
On a walk through Kibera’s narrow paths with CFK Africa Nutrition Community Health Promoter (CHP) Bentado, we stopped beside a small charcoal stall tucked between rows of iron-sheet homes.
“This is Judith’s place,” she said, smiling. “You would not have recognized her a year ago.”
Judith Awino Obilo is a 33-year-old mother of six who sells charcoal to her community. But her life has not always carried the confidence she now exudes.
Before joining CFK Africa’s Nutrition Program, she describes herself as “just a regular community woman,” navigating life in a harsh environment. She endured an abusive marriage, constant disputes with neighbours, and periods of deep instability. She had little sense of agency and no clear path forward.
“I did not have anything to stand for,” she recalls.
That began to change when she met Bentado, who introduced her to CFK’s Nutrition Champions training.
Alongside 20 other women, Judith spent a year learning about healthy feeding practices, household nutrition, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. For Judith, the training was more than just theoretical. It was transformational.
She began applying what she learned immediately at home. One of her children had demonstrated visible signs of protein-energy malnutrition, including noticeable changes in hair colour, a signal she previously did not understand. With guidance from the training, Judith adjusted her household diet, incorporating affordable, locally available nutritious foods. Gradually, her child’s health improved.
Economic Empowerment: A Foundation for Dignity and Health
One of the key pillars of the program was financial literacy and entrepreneurship, ensuring women have new, creative ways to earn money, helping them afford healthier food for themselves and their families. Judith used the skills she gained to start a charcoal-selling business in Kibera.
Her shop is now operational and providing a steady income. This financial stability has had ripple effects.
She can ensure there is food at home. She can contribute to her children’s school expenses. She has gained respect within the community. The same woman who once struggled with dependency and instability now stands as a provider and decision-maker. “I now stand for myself,” she says.
Real Change Begins When Local Leaders Drive It.
After successfully completing CFK’s one-year training, Judith did not stop at personal change. She began sharing nutrition knowledge with other women in Kibera. Today, she speaks confidently about nutrition and women’s health, improving the nutrition and socio-economic status of other mothers and their children, and becoming a trusted voice in her community.
Judith has reclaimed control over her life and her children’s health. Now recognized as a Nutrition Champion Mother, she is informed, empowered, and leading change from within.
***In honor of our 25th anniversary in 2026, this story is #6 of 25 Stories of Change, shared throughout the year and featuring youth and communities whose lives have been transformed by CFK Africa.