Grace Bamisile lives in Ilupeju-Ijan with her husband and their four children. Thirteen years ago, soon after she became a mother, she opened a small shop selling drinks and household items. Back then, the electricity worked, and her business did well. Cold drinks were popular, especially during the dry season, and she could support her family. But things changed when the power was suddenly cut off. As Grace remembers,
“My cold drink business could not survive without light, so I had to follow my husband to the farm every day.”
For over ten years, Ilupeju-Ijan had no electricity. Grace tried to keep her business going by travelling to a nearby town to buy ice blocks so she could still sell cold drinks. But the cost and danger soon became too much. After almost having an accident on a rough road while carrying ice, she decided to stop. As her business faded, she focused on farm work to get by.
“Sometimes, I even worked on other people’s farms just to earn a little money; many times, I cried, wondering when things would ever get better,” she says.
Things started to change when the community took action. With support from ActionAid and local partners, people learned how to organise, speak up, and work with leaders. They joined forces, using their voices and experiences to push for change. Their hard work paid off. After years of effort, electricity finally came back. For Grace, it meant a lot: “The return of electricity brought light not only to my home but also to my heart.”
Once the electricity was back, Grace’s shop started thriving again. She could sell cold drinks, and her customers came back. The change has been huge.
“Before, I was making about ₦3,000 a day, sometimes even less. But now, I earn between ₦10,000 and ₦20,000 daily. I can proudly contribute to my children’s school fees, support my husband, and even save more in our cooperative. Now, even when my husband doesn’t ask, I am willing and able to help,” she shares.
Today, Ilupeju-Ijan is thriving, thanks to electricity and collaboration. Your support helped communities like Grace’s gain confidence to advocate for their rights. Her story is just one example. Now, she says, “My savings have increased, and I can now plan and save for my children’s future.”
Many communities still await change. When you donate to community sponsorship, your support helps provide resources, training, and equipment so that the community people we serve can work together for lasting progress. Your gift can empower another family, like Grace’s, to overcome obstacles and take charge of their future. Please consider making a donation today to help even more families transform their lives.
Your past support for ActionAid Community Sponsorship helped families access vital resources, training, and equipment to build lasting progress—and because of you, families like Grace’s have been able to overcome obstacles and take charge of their future. Yet many more communities are still waiting for that same opportunity. By reactivating your donation today, you can continue the journey of change you once began, empowering families to transform their lives and create lasting hope for generations to come.