GAMAID
- July 25, 2025
My name is Uduak Joseph. I am 23 years old, and I live in Uyo.
Before GAMAID Foundation came into my life, I was carrying a kind of financial weight that just refused to let go. There were days when hunger would not let me concentrate on anything, and nights when I would lie awake wondering where my next meal or even a place to sleep would come from.
At the time, I was living with an aunt who stayed far away from my school, and I could no longer afford transportation to and from classes. Because of this, I often went to school with basic toiletries and a change of underwear in my bag, just in case I had to spend the night at a friend’s place or wherever “night fell on me.” The uncertainty of where I would sleep each day was overwhelming, especially as a Year 1 student. Trying to manage both shelter and food at the same time felt like too much for one person, and each passing week only made me more anxious about how I would continue school under this circumstance.
I first heard about GAMAID Foundation through my church, and in 2021, they truly became my lifeline.
At that time, my family was going through a very difficult financial season. I could barely afford to eat properly, but GAMAID began supporting me with weekly stipends that carried me through a particularly tough academic season, covering my breakfasts and lunches and basic female needs at a time when I genuinely had nothing else. That was how I was able to _keep body and soul together._
When my father and I were not on good terms, and there was a real risk that our family could fall apart, GAMAID supported me with funds to travel and visit him occasionally, and they even counselled that I spend meaningful time with him; especially as I was the only member of my family in the same state with him, at that time.
That gesture not only taught me how to honour my father, even when I did not fully know how at the time, but it also became a turning point in our relationship. All of which eventually led to the healing and restoration of our bond.
In 2022, I began staying in one of the GAMAID shelters at a very affordable rate. When I later started falling behind on payments, they graciously cancelled my rent entirely. For one year and three months, I had a safe, rent-free home where I could truly rest, study, and regain stability.
In 2023, my father became seriously ill, they showed up for me in ways I will never forget. They provided significant support and stood by me emotionally during those long hours at his bedside.
Different members of the Foundation took turns in visiting and caring for my father and for me as well, especially during a time when none of my family members were in town and the entire responsibility rested on me.
He eventually passed on and when it was time to lay him to rest, GAMAID Foundation did not just provide meaningful financial support toward the burial; they also sent representatives who traveled to my hometown a day before the event.
They helped my family honour him properly without being overwhelmed by expenses we could not afford.
Altogether, their support through food, shelter, medical assistance, and financial aid amounted to approximately ₦200,000, and it became the foundation I could finally stand on again.
With every meal I ate, every night I slept under a secure roof, and every word of encouragement and comfort I received, I could feel my hope returning—little by little.
My family also found peace knowing I was being cared for, and we experienced a quiet sense of relief even in the midst of our loss.
To the sponsors, volunteers, and every member of the GAMAID Foundation team, please accept my deepest gratitude. Your kindness turned my darkest days into a season of healing and growth. You gave me more than help, you restored my dignity, my stability, and the freedom to pursue my dreams again.
May God richly bless you for every life you continue to uplift.