Hope Blooms in the Face of Hardship

Amidst the harsh realities of life in Al-Maraw’ah District, Hodeida Governorate, ten-years-old Noha embodies an inspiring blend of resilience and hope. Each day, despite the gnawing hunger and the dilapidated condition of her school a place lacking basic essentials like proper classrooms, chairs, and teaching materials Noha clings to her education dream.
Noha’s father, Ahmed Nakhli, has experienced hardship firsthand. Displaced from his home in Bayt al-Faqih district by the escalating conflict in 2017, that he was working as farmer in Bayt Al Faqih before he displaced to Al-Maraw’ah district. Ahmed found refuge in Al-Maraw’ah with his wife and six children. Their new home a small, ramshackle room surrounded by crumbling brick walls and a makeshift mud barrier barely shields them from both heat and cold. The room’s rent of 6,000 Yemeni riyals (about 12 USD) is all they can manage, leaving them with limited comfort or protection from the elements.

“The Home that Noha and her family live in, it hardly protects them from the heat of summer or the cold of winter”

Ahmed faces a daily struggle to make ends meet. His work as a firewood collector or day laborer seldom covers the cost of basic necessities. On good days, he manages to buy rice and vegetables, but on bad days, he must rely on leftover food from local eateries to feed his children. “I daily pray to Allah for sustenance for my family, enabling me to concentrate on my education rather than working in the plastic recycling industry,” Noha said.
Despite these challenges, Ahmed ensures his children, including Noha, attend school. Noha, aware of her family’s dire situation, prays daily for a miracle that would allow her father to find stable work and provide financial relief, so she wouldn’t have to abandon her education to help support the family. Her pride shines through as she persists in her studies, even if it means going to school without a proper bag or textbooks.
Noha expressed her pleasure at her family becoming beneficiaries of the emergency response project for the Food Security and Livelihoods Project, funded by Sign of Hope and implemented by the Relief & Development Peer Foundation. This support has marked a significant change in their lives. Noha beams with joy as they start receiving regular food aid. The family now enjoys rice not just for lunch, but also for dinner, complemented by beans cooked by Noha’s mother. This newfound stability brings a glimmer of hope to Noha’s eyes.

Noha eagerly anticipated the day of food distribution. The night before, she could hardly sleep. Her dreams were filled with visions of collecting aid with her father and the joy of bringing home a bag of rice. The prospect of their next meal being a feast of rice and vegetables brings a sense of celebration to the family.

“Noha’s father during receiving food assistance “

“Noha carries a bag of rice to take back home, and joy fills her little heart”

In her heart, Noha feels immense gratitude towards the Relief & Development Peer Foundation and Sign of Hope. She hopes this support will continue. “The provided food assistance has proven to be a lifeline for families like Noha’s, ensuring they have access to nutritious meals and alleviating food insecurity.” The FSL Program Officer said that, for now, Noha’s dreams of a better future are fueled by the generosity of those who have helped lighten their burdens, and her spirit remains unbroken despite the hardships.