Left Without Support: How One Mother Secured Her Family's Future

To protect the survivor's identity, names, ages, locations, and other identifying details in this story have been changed. It reflects a real case handled by LEWAF's Response and Advocacy program.

After decades of marriage, a woman's husband began pursuing additional marriages against her wishes, eventually returning from a trip abroad with two new wives. She made her objection clear — and rather than resolve the conflict at home, her husband withdrew entirely, abandoning the household he had built with her and their children for more than three months.

Without his financial support, the family's rented home fell into disrepair, leaving her and her children effectively homeless. A relative took them in temporarily, but with her own household already stretched thin, the arrangement couldn't hold for long. Multiple attempts by extended family to reason with the husband failed. Eventually, a police officer referred the family to LEWAF.

LEWAF's team facilitated a series of meetings between the family and the husband, walking him through Sierra Leonean law on spousal and child maintenance and the consequences of failing to provide for his family. Faced with the reality of the law, he agreed — signing a formal family support and child maintenance agreement. He has since secured suitable housing for his wife and children and now provides regular monthly financial support for their care, education, and medical needs.

"I never thought he would accept his responsibility after every family effort had failed. I am relieved and happy with my children in our new home."