There are stories worth hearing. But more importantly, there are stories worth telling. One such story is Rosemary’s. She’s a mother of three amazing and vibrant kids. She lost her husband in 2018 and the Special Foundation shared her story in 2022. Hers was a tale that highlighted the important value that providing the right support can bring to those who need it. 

A Widow’s Tale

Love is an amazing feeling. The joyful feeling of finding the love of one’s life is incomparable to anything else. Rosemary Ogunleye felt something similar when she met the man who would later become her husband. Young and in love, they damned the odds and got married in 2012. Everything was going well and Rosemary was living the fairytale life. But then the cold hands of death visited. In 2018, she lost the love of her life. If finding love was an incomparable feeling of joy, then losing the loved one who sparked that joy was worse. 

In a society with a high poverty and unemployment rate, most widows feel like invisible women with invisible problems, often neglected by society after the death of their spouse. According to the United Nations, nearly one in ten widows live in extreme poverty. Rosemary’s reality after the death of her husband didn’t stray far from this statistic. After her husband passed, working for a measly 20,000NGN ($12.18) salary a month, she was forced to move back into her ageing mother’s one-room apartment with three kids to cater for and support.

Staying Brave  

For widows like Rosemary, life is often littered with a few good moments and more difficult ones. Every day is a struggle and a test of their resolve to stay positive and move forward despite their circumstance. On the one hand, dealing with the grief of the loss of a spouse is emotionally draining almost as much as putting on a brave face for their kids. But Rosemary finds a way to make this balance a possibility. “These are the kids that make me live. This is my happiness in life,” she recounts with emotion, speaking about her kids. 

When The Special Foundation first got in touch, her children were aged 10, 6, and 4. They are an embodiment of delight and warmth. Inside her mother’s modest home, there’s a picture of Rosemary and her late husband. All three kids bear a striking facial resemblance to their late father. Through them, Rosemary draws strength and bravery to keep giving her best. But on most days, her best never seems enough. And this is where finding the right support proves vital. 

Finding Hope

Having shared her story with the proprietress of one of the schools her youngest kids attend, Rosemary was informed of The Special Foundation's work helping underprivileged kids. Fast forward to a few months later and TSF in collaboration with its partners met with Rosemary and documented her story. As of writing this, two of Rosemary’s children’s educational needs are sponsored through our Inspire Scholarship initiative. 

Rosemary’s two youngest children, Nifemi and Sitemi, now 8 and 6 are beneficiaries of the Inspire Scholarship. They are thriving in school and the youngest, Sitemi continues to be a source of hope and joy to her mom. She is currently in primary 1 and finished the term with excellent grades. She particularly excels at everything. One of the best moments to recall during the interview with Rosemary on our “Tales of Hope” episode was her remark about how her kids would often embrace her when she returned from work, forcing her to smile if they noticed she looked sad, and ensuring she had a smile on her face before they left her alone. 

Why Your Support Matters

These stories, as heartbreaking as they are, speak to the hopefulness of what a little support can do for the families of children who desperately need our support. Education is a right every child deserves regardless of their circumstance. Providing access to that right is one we are willing to embody continually. 

We are proud of the growth of Nifemi and Sitemi and continue to be inspired by the selfless dedication of mothers like Rosemary. You can be part of our cause as we strive to transform the lives of children from underprivileged backgrounds. We know there is a lot more to do. But we also know that with your support, “a lot” becomes “a little less.” Join us as a volunteer today or donate to our cause. 

Remember: 

Every child is your child, every child has a right to dream.