Women in Crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia

Selam often found herself staring at the walls of her small, rented house, wondering how to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. As a single mother from the Kunama community, her daily life was a relentless battle against poverty. Since her divorce, the responsibility of raising and feeding five children fell entirely on her. With no support from their father, every sunrise brought the same crushing question: How will we survive today? For years, Selam did everything she could. She took on backbreaking daily labour and poured her heart into creating traditional handicrafts. But as the local economy shifted, the demand for her crafts dwindled, and the availability of manual labour became unpredictable, leaving her barely able to put food on the table. Three of her children were old enough to be in school, laughing and learning with their peers. Instead, they sat at home. The cost of basic school supplies—items as simple as a pen and an exercise book—had become an impossible luxury. Watching her children’s education slip away felt like a final blow. A heavy blanket of hopelessness settled over the household. But a local report flagged the vulnerability of Selam and her children, catching the attention of our organization. We didn't just offer a temporary fix; we provided a lifeline wrapped in dignity. To ease the immediate financial burden, we trained her in small business skills and assisted her to set up a small retail shop. On top of this her three children were given the pens and exercise books that had once felt so far out of reach. We further empowered Selam with parenting skills training and a harmful traditional practices awareness session. Today, the atmosphere in Selam’s home has completely transformed. There is happy, energetic chatter of children getting ready for school. Selam no longer looks at the future with dread. She is now a proud business owner who will be able to provide for her family and is no longer in need of our assistance. We thank you for the part you played in supporting Selam! We hope we can count on you to continue your support as there are many “Selam’s” in our area waiting to be assisted out of the cycle of poverty.