File:Oxfam East Africa - “I am no longer a dumpster” – Mercy Mwangi.jpg

Until this year, Mercy Mwangi had only heard about supermarkets – she had never stepped inside one. “I knew they existed but I used to see them as shops for the rich, people whose league I would never ever reach!”

The 50-year-old mother raised her five grown children by doing odd jobs. “Even in my senior age I would pick plastics from garbage dumps and sell to recycling companies. That work is erratic and doesn’t pay much.”

Her life became even harder when she was diagnosed with HIV and put on heavy medication. “Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs need someone to eat well, so when I didn’t have enough food I would not take them at all and this made me very sick and weak.”

Mercy got so sick that the neighbours became worried and registered her with MSDP. “I now sort plastics, a more respectable job than scavenging in the dumpsites. For this I am paid Ksh 300 (£2) a day, instead of the Ksh 50 I used to make.”

When Mercy got her first wage, she headed straight to the nearby supermarket. “I walked in with a lot of confidence since this time I had some money to spend.”

People’s perceptions of her have also changed. “Before I would ask the business people to give me vegetables or cooking oil for me to pay later, and they would find it really hard. Now I don’t even have to ask.”

Mercy has gone back to taking ARVs and she is much healthier and living each day with a positive attitude.