Selam, a 30-year-old mother of two from Wukro Town in Ethiopia, had built a stable livelihood before the conflict through a small retail shop that generated enough income to support her family. However, the outbreak of the conflict changed her life completely. Her business was destroyed, and she lost the assets she had spent years building. Even more devastatingly, she witnessed the death of close family members and friends during the conflict, leaving her with deep psychological trauma and emotional distress.
Following the conflict, Selam struggled to meet even her family’s most basic needs. Without a reliable source of income, she was unable to pay house rent, purchase food, buy school supplies for her children, or afford clothing, hygiene items, and healthcare. Watching her children grow up without the opportunities enjoyed by their peers caused her significant emotional pain and increased her feelings of hopelessness.
Determined to survive, Selam used her remaining ETB 500 to begin selling small quantities of charcoal on the roadside. Although this provided a small daily income, it was far from enough to support her family. As her financial situation continued to deteriorate, she lost hope and eventually considered leaving her two children behind to migrate irregularly in search of work, believing it was her only remaining option.
At this critical point, Selam was identified and enrolled in ChildFund Ethiopia’s integrated Child Protection and Food Security Project in 2024. As part of the project’s Emergency Income-Generating Activity (EIGA) intervention, she first participated in basic business skills training, where she strengthened her knowledge of small business management, financial planning, and income generation.
Upon completing the training, Selam received an emergency start-up cash grant of ETB 8,860, which enabled her to rent a small shop and start a retail business. Through hard work, careful financial management, and reinvesting her profits, her business gradually grew. Recognizing her commitment and progress, ChildFund Ethiopia later provided an additional ETB 10,928 to further expand her business, followed by ETB 7,373 in complementary cash support to strengthen her household’s economic recovery.
Beyond livelihood support, Selam also benefited from integrated child protection services, including Psychosocial Support (PSS). These services helped her cope with the emotional trauma caused by the conflict, rebuild her confidence, and strengthen her capacity to care for and protect her children.
Today, Selam’s life has changed significantly. Her household income has improved, enabling her to provide regular meals for her children, pay rent on time, purchase school materials, and meet other essential household expenses. Her children now attend school regularly, have adequate clothing and hygiene supplies, and enjoy a safer and more stable home environment. The support also prevented Selam from resorting to irregular migration, protecting both her and her children from serious protection risks. Instead of separating from her family, she has rebuilt her livelihood and restored hope for a better future.
Reflecting on her journey, Selam says:
“There was a time when I believed I had lost everything. I had no hope for myself or for my children. Today, I can feed my family, support my children’s education, and plan with confidence. ChildFund gave me more than financial support, it gave me the opportunity to rebuild my life.”
Today, Selam looks to the future with hopefulness. What began as an emergency livelihood intervention has become a pathway toward self-reliance, resilience, and dignity. Her determination, combined with ChildFund Ethiopia’s integrated package of livelihood and child protection support, has enabled her to rebuild her life and create a brighter future for her children.
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.