Jerusalem, a courageous mother from kebele 04, Adigrat Town in Ethiopia, has been raising four children under 18 alone after surviving the conflict, which led to her separation from her husband. One of her daughters, aged 15, lives with a severe disability unable to walk, speak, feed herself, or control her bodily functions.
Jerusalem struggled for years, working in other people‘s homes doing manual labor and washing clothes, while her family lived in extreme hardship without basic necessities like food, hygiene supplies or even a mattress. Jerusalem also had no access to medical care for her disabled daughter, leaving her in severe psychological distress and helplessness.
Through the JF-FS&CPiE project support, Jerusalem received:
- A wheelchair provided through referral services from ChildFund Ethiopia, improving her daughter’s mobility and assisting her mother in caregiving.
- Multi-purpose cash assistance enabling her to purchase food, mattresses and diapers for her children
- Case management services for her disabled daughter, ensuring ongoing medical care, psychosocial support, clothes and diapers support
- A dignity kit for herself, restoring hygiene and dignity
Through the comprehensive support received, Jerusalem life has changed dramatically.
Food security was restored by cash assistance enabling her to purchase food. Her family’s living conditions improved with mattresses provided. Now the family no longer sleeps on the floor.
The dignity kit provided hygiene supplies, restoring her sense of dignity.
Case management ensures her daughter receives medical care, and the Wheelchair provided through referral services has improved daughter mobility and supported psychological healing.
Jerusalem demonstrates the transformative power of integrated support combining Cash Assistance, Case management, Dignity Kits and Wheelchair referral services. This holistic approach has addressed both the immediate material needs and long term protection needs of a vulnerable female headed households and her child with a disability.
The intervention proves that comprehensive, dignity focused support can restore hope and stability to the most vulnerable conflict affected families.
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.