Three Fathers, Three Stories

This Father's Day, we're celebrating and honoring the fathers at Untold — men who have made courageous commitments to their own health and, in doing so, to the futures of their families.

For many Untold clients, fatherhood is the motivation that brings them through the door of their local church. The desire to provide for their children — physically, emotionally, and spiritually — moves clients to prioritize their own wellbeing, develop marketable skills, and pursue lasting transformation. As they grow, so does their capacity to be present with the people they love most.

Meet Erastus, Vincent, and Rajabu — three fathers whose journeys have been shaped by the love they carry for their children. 

Erastus 

It was Erastus’s choice to join Untold that led him to fatherhood. 

Erastus joined Untold in 2022 through Kidutani Center in Kilifi, Kenya. After sharing with his counselors a desire to settle down, the center staff introduced Erastus to another woman in the program who had a young child. After beginning a joyful relationship, Erastus and the woman were married and he adopted the child as his own, opening his home up to his new family. Today, Erastus and his wife live on their farm and work together to raise their child. 

“My small farm has all been funded by the savings group loans. Today, I never sleep hungry, my farm produces enough for all my family's needs and more to earn a profit,” he said.

Vincent 

For Vincent, the marketable skills he learned through Untold have allowed him to provide for the daily needs of his children and send them to school. 

Vincent is a husband and a father to five daughters and two sons in Nairobi, Kenya. When Vincent and his second wife were expecting their last-born child, his wife tested positive for HIV. Months later, Vincent himself grew sick and tested positive as well. Filled with fear for their child, when Vincent’s wife gave birth, the child was put on post-exposure medicines for six months. When the couple received a negative HIV test back for their child, they were filled with joy that their child was HIV free. 

Through skills seminars with Untold, Vincent learned how to make candles and quickly began his own enterprise. Eager to expand his business, he later learned how to make and market petroleum jelly, and is looking to expand his business to peanut butter production in the future.  

“From the two businesses I roughly make 5,000 shillings in a month. From this, my family can have a good healthy breakfast and I can also cater to the daily needs of my family. My children can be able to go to school.”

Rajabu 

It was the unconditional support of Rajabu’s children that helped him find peace and acceptance.  

Rajabu is a widower and father to four adult children in Tanzania. When he first discovered his HIV status, Rajabu – worried about how they would react – hid his medication and clinic visits from his children.

When Rajabu joined Untold, the one-on-one sessions with his counselors helped him find the courage to disclose his HIV status to his children. The vulnerability of this step deepened his relationship with his children, who continue to consistently check up on him, remind him to take his medication, and provide immense emotional support. 

Through Untold’s skills seminars, Rajabu learned sandal-making and hopes to save enough money from his sales to one day open his own sandal shop. With his new income, he has been able to relieve his children of the pressure of providing for him financially. 

Rajabu shared that the support he received from his children has made him more vibrant. The love and encouragement of family has helped him to further accept his status and find peace within himself. 

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We wish  a happy Father’s Day for all the fathers who are leading and making a difference in their homes, families, and communities. We are grateful for you!