LocationsOn the Road to Resilience: The journey of Adel and Wazirah
August 26, 2024
"Working on the road was not just about improving transportation; it was about giving our community a lifeline. It was a dream come true for our village." – Adel
Adel and Wazirah in their grocery store, supported by the ERRY III Joint Programme in Al Maqatirah District, Lahj Governorate.
One family’s story
Adel, his wife Wazirah, and their four children, live among the picturesque yet challenging landscapes of Al Musayjid Village in the Al Maqatirah District of Yemen’s Lahj Governorate. Despite the beauty of their surroundings, the couple faced severe hardships exacerbated by Yemen's ongoing multiple crises. As a long-time teacher, Adel grappled with the irregular payment of salaries, making it difficult to provide for his family. Meanwhile, Wazirah nurtured dreams of ensuring a stable future for their children, including better service provision, amid Yemen’s economic instability.
Aerial view of Al Musayjid Village in Al Maqatirah District, Lahj Governorate, showing part of the newly constructed road that has transformed access to essential services, as part of the ERRY III Joint Programme.
The ERRY III Joint Programme
The ERRY III Joint Programme, funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and implementing partner CARE, provided the opportunity for Adel and Wazireh to actively participate in their community's efforts to improve infrastructure and access to basic services. Additionally, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and local partner the Social Fund for Development (SFD) trained local community committee members, including Adel and Wasirah, to establish resilience plans aimed at restoring essential services.
Rehabilitating a crucial road
As part of the Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) programme, facilitated by WFP, Adel and Wazirah dedicated six months as part of a group of 150 participants to rehabilitate a crucial road in Al Musayjid Village. Their commitment transformed a once difficult and hazardous path into a reliable road connecting their village to neighboring areas and essential services. Three other nearby villages also benefit from the improved road, including more than 3,500 individuals who use the road for access services for health, schools and water.
"The road was not just a path; it was our hope and future," Adel shares. "Working on the road was not just about improving transportation; it was about giving our community a lifeline. It was a dream come true for our village."
Wazirah echoes his sentiments, saying, "This project brought our village together. Every day, we worked side by side with our neighbors, knowing that we were building something that would benefit us all."
Road rehabilitation participants gear up for another day of work on the rehabilitation project. Their efforts, supported by the ERRY III Joint Programme, have been instrumental in transforming their village in Al Maqatirah District, Lahj Governorate.
Providing employment and economic stability
During the six-month of the project, Adel and Wazirah, along with 150 other men and women, received monthly cash payments. This income provided crucial financial stability amidst local economic downturn.
"The money we earned from the road project allowed us to dream bigger," Wazirah explains. "We could finally open our Al-Amal Grocery, which has become a cornerstone of economic stability for our family."
Adel adds, "With the steady income, we could stock our store more efficiently and expand our business. It was a significant step towards securing a better future for our children."
Adel and Wazirah’s small grocery store provide a reliable income to support their family's needs, including their childrens’ education. Their four children, who had struggled with the uncertainty of their father’s irregular salary, are now able to continue their studies without interruption.
"Our children can now go to school without worrying about the costs," Wazirah shares with a smile. "This project has given them a chance at a brighter future."
Wazirah serves a customer in her Al-Amal grocery store, made possible by the ERRY III joint programme, transforming lives in Al Maqatirah district, Lahj governorate.
The ripple effect of resilience
The impact of the joint road project has rippled through the local community. Not only did the road project provide job opportunities and improve infrastructure, but it also fostered a sense of unity and collective achievement among local residents.
Adel notes, "Our work on the road showed us that together, we can overcome even the most overwhelming challenges."
Adel stocks shelves in the Al-Amal Grocery Store, while his wife Wazirah looks on.
Continuing the journey
Adel and Wazirah remain hopeful for continued support to expand their grocery store. They aspire to buy a freezer for frozen foods and make structural improvements.
"We are deeply grateful for the support," Wazirah says. "With this assistance, we can achieve greater economic stability and provide a better future for our children."
Aden and Wazirah’s journey, marked by determination and hope, highlights the transformative power of community-driven projects. Their story is just one example of how empowering 150 men and women in Al Musayjid Village has encouraged entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
Adel surveys the newly rehabilitated road in Al Musayjid Village, a project under the ERRY III Joint Programme.
Children walk to school along the newly rehabilitated road in Al Musayjid Village, Al Maqatirah District. The road, improved through the ERRY III Joint Programme, has made it safer and easier for students to access education in Lahj Governorate.
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