A 39-year-old mother from Setit Humera town in Western Tigray, Ethiopia, once lived a stable and prosperous life with her husband and two sons, aged 11 and 9. She was a successful businesswoman, owning two large enterprises—one supplying construction materials and another manufacturing and distributing modern electric equipment to the community. Through her hard work, she provided a secure and happy life for her family.
When the conflict in Tigray erupted, her life was abruptly shattered. Forced to flee her hometown in search of safety, she experienced severe trauma along the journey when she was sexually assaulted by individuals from an unknown armed group. The incident deeply affected her children, who were exposed to extreme fear and distress, resulting in ongoing psychological challenges.
The trauma and displacement also strained her family relationships, and her husband eventually divorced her, leaving her to care for her children alone. Overwhelmed by stress and depression, she arrived at the Wukro IDP camp with no resources, no income, and no means to support her children.
Through the GFFO Project, ChildFund Ethiopia provided life-saving and comprehensive support, including non-food items (NFI), mattresses and blankets, clothing and scholastic materials for her children, cash and voucher assistance (CVA), basic business skills training, emergency start-up capital, and psychosocial support for both the mother and her sons. Reflecting on her live she shares:
“Before the war, I was a businesswoman with a stable life and big hopes for my family. Conflict took everything from me in a very short time. I arrived in Wukro with my children feeling helpless and alone. Today, I am working, caring for my sons, and supporting their education. As a single mother, I could not have done this alone. I have regained my strength and hope for the future.”
With this holistic support, she gradually regained her confidence, emotional stability, and sense of purpose. Today, she runs a small shop. The income from this business enables her to care for her sons, support their education, and rebuild a sense of normalcy in their lives.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the German Humanitarian Assistance
Its contents are the sole responsibility of Joining Forces and do not necessarily reflect the views of the German Humanitarian Assistance.