Just when women and girls need support the most, access to essential services diminishes, but for me, my call was answered by a social worker who listened to me and helped me with what I was feeling.

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Asha*, a 25-year-old mother of six, has been living in a camp for internally displaced people (IDP) in the Bay region for the past two years. Her family’s journey to the camp began when they had to leave their home in a District about 255 kilometres out of Baidoa. They were pastoralists who relied on farming and livestock to make a living. During good seasons, they grew crops like sorghum, beans, and maize, keeping some for their family and selling the rest to meet other needs. On other days, Asha*’s husband worked as a donkey cart rider, earning $3 to $5 a day when jobs were available.

However, prolonged droughts caused by insufficient rainfall left their land dry and their livestock without food. This loss, combined with increasing insecurity in their region, forced Asha*’s family to seek safety in Baidoa. They settled in an IDP camp, where humanitarian organizations provided them with shelter built to withstand harsh weather.

Life in the camp was not easy, but Asha*’s husband found occasional work on nearby farms, helping to provide for their family. Asha* stayed at home, caring for her children and managing their daily needs. Despite these efforts, the challenges of displacement were immense, and the family relied on humanitarian aid to make ends meet.

One night, Asha* faced a terrifying incident when an intruder tried to come into their shelter. Her screams scared him away, but the experience left her feeling unsafe and afraid. When Asha* shared what happened with her husband, he struggled to accept the incident, which led to tension between them. During these times their makeshift home was flooded, and they were without shelter once again, till they were housed by a distant family that was living in another camp in the city.

Feeling isolated, Asha* confided in a friend who encouraged her to seek help and shared the GREDO hotline number. With courage, Asha* called the hotline and connected with a social worker under the GAASHAAN program. This program, part of a larger humanitarian initiative funded by HARBS/FCDO, is dedicated to helping survivors of violence and providing crucial support.

Through the program, Asha* received tailored psychosocial support to help her process her experiences and start healing. Over six weeks, she attended weekly sessions that helped her regain confidence and emotional strength, as well as separate family sessions along with her husband.

To further assist her recovery, Asha* was provided with a one-time cash grant of $99 after assessing her family’s needs. This grant helped Asha* address immediate family needs in difficult times. She also received kitchen garden seeds and training on gardening techniques, these resources allowed Asha* to grow her own food and rebuild her sense of self-reliance. She also received dignity kits containing essential hygiene items.

Today, Asha* is optimistic about the future, she feels supported and empowered to move forward with her life.

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ASHA*'S STORY

‘‘My name is Asha*. I am 25 years old, a mother of three boys and three girls.

For the past two years, my family has lived in this IDP camp near Baidoa. Before coming here, we lived in a District, about 250 kilometres away, where we were pastoralists.

Life was simple but stable. We kept goats and cultivated crops like sorghum, beans, and maize when the rains were good.

During favourable seasons, we harvested enough to feed ourselves and sell the surplus to buy other essentials. And in other seasons, my husband was a donkey carter rider and was making 3-5 dollars that we needed for our daily needs.

However, prolonged droughts dried up our crops and left no pasture for our animals. At the same time, insecurity in the region made it impossible for us to stay.

Like many others, we had to leave our home and go to Baidoa, eventually settling in this IDP camp.

Upon arriving, we received humanitarian assistance, including shelters made from iron sheets and timber, which provided some protection from the elements.

Life in the camp was not without challenges, but my husband was working on nearby farms, helping to provide for the family and I was staying at home, caring for our children.

Besides what my husband was making, we were primarily relying on humanitarian aid to make ends meet.

One night, I woke up to find someone trying to attack me in my own home.

I screamed, and the intruder fled, but the incident left me deeply shaken and afraid. I confided in a friend, who gave me the hotline number I can call for support. At first, I was hesitant, but eventually, I decided to call.

During this time, our home was flooded, and we were displaced once again. A relative was able to house us but with the incident and losing our home, I was feeling afraid and Isolated.

Just when women and girls need support the most, access to essential services diminishes, but for me, my call was answered by a social worker who listened to me and helped me with what I was feeling.

Over the course of six weeks, I started attending regular psychosocial support sessions that helped me regain my confidence and feel stronger.

In addition to this emotional support, I received $99 in cash assistance to help with immediate needs and was connected to other services and was provided with seeds, tools, and training for a kitchen garden, which has been a source of fresh produce for my family.

Thanks to this support, I feel more hopeful, and I am rebuilding my life step by step.

My children are attending school, and I am optimistic about the future.’’

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Background / Project information

The GAASHAAN Programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is aimed at providing sustainable humanitarian aid and prevention against protection and GBV risks in South Central Somalia, will directly benefit 43,756 individuals, including men, women, boys, and girls, with 5% being people with disabilities, across 18 districts in 9 regions. Additionally, around 117,200 indirect beneficiaries will be reached through advocacy and awareness efforts. The project is implemented by a consortium of organizations: Save the Children as Consortium Lead and organizations like International Rescue Committee, CARE International, Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC), Somali Women and Development Centre (SWDC), Somali Women’s Studies Centre (SWSC), and GREDO.