‘‘One of the most meaningful moments in my career was realizing how much the community trusts me. I’ve become more confident in supporting GBV survivors because of the knowledge I’ve gained and the trust the community has in me,’’ Fatima*.

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Fatima* is a 29-year-old mother of three who has spent the past five years working tirelessly as a case and social worker in Somalia. Born in Somalia and raised in Kenya, Fatima* returned to her homeland with a deep commitment to helping the most vulnerable members of her community. Her journey into humanitarian work began with a strong desire to apply her education and experiences to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Fatima*’s day starts early. She wakes up at 5 am to pray and call her children and family in Kenya, a routine that helps her stay connected to her loved ones, even though they’re far away. By 7:30 am, she’s on her way to work, and by 8:00 am, she’s at her desk, ready to begin the day’s work.

Her role is multifaceted. As a case and social worker, she manages cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection (CP), refers extremely vulnerable children to health centers for medical care, and provides essential material support such as food and clothes to unaccompanied minors and separated children. One of the most challenging aspects of her job is handling cases of GBV survivors, who often need immediate attention. Fatima* refers these survivors to specialized centers like IMC and Bayhawa Health Centre for clinical management and ensures they receive the support and necessities they need.

Each day, Fatima* carefully balances the needs of those she serves, making sure the most urgent cases are addressed first. Despite the emotional and logistical challenges, the most rewarding part of her job is seeing the positive impact her work has on the lives of women, children, and families.

In a community where trust is not easily given, Fatima*’s dedication and consistency have earned her the respect and confidence of those she serves. People trust her because they know she is there to support them, not to judge them. This trust is a great responsibility, one that Fatima* carries with honour.

However, the work is not without its challenges. Limited training opportunities, a lack of basic resources like computers and vehicles, and the absence of a GPISM system make Fatima*’s job more difficult. But she remains undeterred, believing in continuous learning and staying updated with new knowledge. With the right tools and support, she knows these challenges can be overcome, allowing for better outcomes for the people she serves.

 

Fatima*’s work extends beyond case management. She conducts awareness sessions on gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection at health centers, educating newly arrived service seekers and the broader community. These sessions are crucial in breaking the silence around these issues and encouraging people to seek help.

Through her work, Fatima* has met many women and girls who have suffered because of GBV. She provides the psychosocial support they need and works closely with their families to help them begin the healing process. It’s incredibly fulfilling for her to see them start to recover, both physically and emotionally.

 

One of the most memorable moments in Fatima*’s career was when she noticed the extent of the trust the community had placed in her. She now feels more confident in supporting GBV survivors because of the knowledge she has gained and the trust the community has in her.

Fatima* recalls a particularly challenging case where a survivor was so overwhelmed by shame and fear that she expressed a desire to die. It was emotionally draining but seeing her eventually recover and regain her strength made all the challenges worthwhile. Moments like these remind Fatima* why she does what she does.

Another notable case that left an impact in Fatima* life is that of Gumuro*, a survivor who arrived at the IDP camp in a constant state of fear. Fatima*, as her caseworker, acted quickly to address Gumuro*'s situation by reporting the perpetrator to the nearest police station. Although the search for the perpetrator yielded no results, Fatima*'s swift actions ensured Gumuro* received immediate psychosocial support and was admitted to a safe temporary shelter. With weekly follow-ups and ongoing support, Fatima* helped Gumuro* regain a sense of relief and calmness. Following these supports, Gumuro* was able to go back to her life and support her children again.

 

Fatima*'s work has impacted the lives of those she serves and has significantly contributed to her personal and professional development. As she looks into the future, she remains deeply motivated by the humanitarian principle of saving lives and alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable, especially children and women who have endured tremendous hardships. This commitment to addressing crises—whether due to conflict, violence, or natural disasters—sustains her, even on the toughest days.

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Fatima*’s Story in Her Own Words:

“My name is Fatima*, and I’m a 29-year-old mother of three. I was born in Somalia; I grew up in Kenya. My children live there with my mother, but I returned to Somalia to follow my dream of working in the humanitarian field. Being away from my children is tough, but this work is important to me, and I want to provide a better future for them.

For the past five years, I’ve worked as a case and social worker, focusing on gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection (CP). Every day, I wake up at 5 am to start my day. After praying, I take a moment to call my children and family back in Kenya. This helps me stay connected to them, even though we’re far apart. By 7:30 am, I’m on my way to work, and by 8:00 am, I’m at my desk, ready to help those who need it most.

My job involves many responsibilities. I manage cases of GBV and CP, providing psychosocial support to people who have gone through very difficult experiences. I also refer sick children to health centers for medical care, and I help GBV survivors get the medical treatment they need at specialized centers like IMC and Bayhawa Health Center. In addition, I provide basic items like food and clothes to unaccompanied minors and separated children, making sure they have what they need to survive.

One of the most memorable cases I handled recently was with a woman named Gumuro*. When I first met her, she was in a constant state of fear, unable to feel safe even in her temporary home within the IDP camp. I knew immediate action was required, so I reported her situation to the nearest police station, hoping to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, no trace of him was found.

Recognizing the urgency of her situation, I provided Gumuro* with basic psychosocial support and arranged for her to be admitted to our safe temporary shelter. From there, we initiated comprehensive case management to ensure she received the necessary services and support. Through weekly follow-ups and ongoing psychosocial support sessions, I witnessed Gumuro* gradually regain a sense of relief and calmness that had been absent for so long.

One of the hardest parts of my job is handling cases like Gumuro*'s and other GBV survivors. These cases require immediate attention, and I have to make sure the most urgent ones are dealt with first. It’s a challenging task but seeing the positive impact on the lives of these women, children, and families makes it all worth it.

Trust is very important in our work. The community trusts me because they know I’m here to support them, not to judge them. That trust is a big responsibility, and I’m proud to have earned it. However, my work comes with many challenges. There are limited training opportunities, and we often lack basic resources like computers and vehicles, which makes our work more difficult. We also don’t have access to a GPISM system, which would help us manage cases more efficiently. Despite these challenges, I believe in learning as much as I can and staying informed so I can do my job better. With the right tools and support, we can overcome these obstacles and improve the lives of the people we serve.

In addition to managing cases, I also hold awareness sessions on GBV and CP at health centers. These sessions are important because they help educate the community about these issues and encourage people to speak up and seek help. During these sessions, I meet many women and girls who have suffered because of GBV. I work closely with them and their families, providing the support they need to begin healing. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them start to recover, both physically and emotionally.

One of the most meaningful moments in my career was realizing how much the community trusts me. I’ve become more confident in supporting GBV survivors because of the knowledge I’ve gained and the trust the community has in me. When I offer services and see the gratitude in their eyes, it gives me a deep sense of purpose and belonging.

But the work can also be emotionally exhausting. I’ve listened to survivors share their pain, and sometimes, they feel so overwhelmed by shame and fear that they say they want to die. But watching them regain their strength and find hope again makes all the challenges worthwhile. These moments remind me why I do this work.

I have always been motivated by the humanitarian principle of saving lives and easing suffering. My work has not only changed the lives of those I help, but it has also shaped me as a person.

I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to learn and develop in this field, and I’m committed to continuing this work to bring hope and healing to those who need it most.’’

Background / Project information:

The GAASHAN 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.