Support vulnerable families in rural Afghanistan

Life in her remote village in Afghanistan was once manageable for Madina* and her family. She owned a small piece of land where she grew wheat and vegetables to meet her family’s daily needs. After her husband passed away, farming became the only way she could provide for her children.

This all changed when two years ago, everything she had worked for was destroyed. “Devastating floods destroyed all of my farmland in a single night. Everything I had worked for was lost, leaving me with no means to earn a living.” 

Across Afghanistan, the impacts of the climate crisis are intensifying, and are being increasingly felt through droughts and flash floods. Rising temperatures and dramatic fluctuations in rainfall and drought have led to ongoing infrastructure and agricultural losses in remote areas and villages. For rural families, these devastations have become increasingly common and severely impede their ability to build resilience. 

These flash floods had also damaged her beloved home. Forced to leave her village, Madina's life became even more difficult. “Unable to afford a home, I lived for an extended period in the houses of relatives and neighbors, which was extremely difficult and often humiliating for both me and my children.”

To survive, Madina took on daily labour where possible. “I spent my days searching for work in house-cleaning and washing, earning just enough to meet basic needs.” Despite her strength, she still did not have enough money to afford a new home for her children.

After months of fear and uncertainty, Afghanaid’s specialised team came to Madina’s area to assess the needs of vulnerable families. After speaking to the team about her situation, she enrolled on a project designed to address her shelter needs. 

Through the project, Madina received vital support to rebuild her life. “I was provided 137,000 Afghanis in cash, delivered in two installments, which I used to purchase materials for repairing and building my house.”

Today, Madina finally has a new place to call home. “Receiving shelter support through the project has profoundly transformed my life,” she told us. “My children are now happy and comfortable. This shelter has given me the opportunity to plan for the future and has significantly reduced the stress of daily life.”

Looking ahead Madina feels very hopeful for her future, particularly as the project also supported her to learn skills in maintaining her new home. “The skills I have gained in house maintenance and repair will help me preserve its condition and support my family’s well-being. I hope my children can continue their education and build a brighter future.”

For Madina, and many other women and men displaced by disaster, this programme has restored dignity, stability, and a hope for a safer future. “This shelter has renewed my hope,” she told us proudly. “I am confident that, with dedication and careful planning, I can continue to improve the living conditions for myself and my family every day.”

*Her name has been changed to protect her privacy

Life in Daykundi province has always been difficult for families like Husnia’s*. With limited income and few opportunities, meeting even basic needs was a daily struggle.

“Our family faced many challenges. Our financial situation was poor, and we had no reliable source of income. My father was the only breadwinner for our family of eight, and it was very difficult for him to cover even our basic needs,” Husnia explained. Despite his constant efforts, it still did not suffice for the livelihood of his family.

To cope, the family often relied on borrowing, and restrictions on women’s movement made her situation even more severe. Husnia told us how the women she knew had “lost all hope and motivation to build a better life.”

During this difficult time, Afghanaid came to Husnia’s local area to assess the needs of vulnerable families. After listening to her challenges, Husnia was selected to receive support that would enable her to earn an income and become the changemaker she had the strength to be, by starting a food production business. 

“I received a food processing kit that contained items such as a pot, a steam cooker, and a gas cylinder. By using these tools, I am able to process food not only for my family's use but also to supply it to the market.”

"I had the opportunity to participate in many training sessions organised by the project", Husnia explained. "I gained essential skills and knowledge about food processing, as well as proper financial management and how to start small businesses."

Now equipped with the training and tools she needed to rewrite her story, this support changed her family’s situation. Husnia was able to not only better utilise the crops grown by her family, she was able to sell her products in her local bazaar, bringing newfound confidence.

Today, Husnia feels hopeful for the future. “I am eager to continue using the knowledge and resources provided to improve my family’s economic situation. God willing, I plan to open my own shop in the future and independently sell processed food products.”

For Husnia, and many other women in Daykundi, this assistance has not only supported households but also restored confidence and created opportunities for a brighter future.

*Name has been changed to protect her privacy.

Links:

• https://www.afghanaid.org.uk