Keeping Dreams Alive Through Crisis

Abdella is a 10-year-old boy carrying a dream that shines brighter than the challenges surrounding him. Growing up in the drought-affected village of Midhaga Tola in East Hararghe, his childhood is shaped by circumstances far beyond his control. Prolonged drought, environmental shocks, and harmful traditional practices have placed many children and families in vulnerable situations, affecting the way they live, learn, and hope for the future. Yet, even in a community where many families, including his own, are focused on meeting their daily needs, Abdella continues to hold on to a dream of his own. 

"When I grow up, I want to become a doctor," he often tells the people around him. 

For Abdella, becoming a doctor represents more than a future career. It represents his hope to help others and contribute to a better tomorrow for the people in his community. But pursuing that dream is not easy, especially in the circumstances he lives in. The recurring drought affecting his community has disrupted daily life and placed additional pressure on children and families. For many students, including Abdella, the emotional impact of living through repeated crises made it difficult to fully concentrate on learning and enjoy their time at school. They attend class, but many struggled to feel present, connected, and motivated. 

For Abdella and many of his classmates, it often felt as though these feelings could only change if their entire community’s circumstances changed. Then, when they least expected it, a new source of support arrived. 

A safe place to heal 

In 2024, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia, with support from SOS Kinderdorpen and the Dutch Relief Alliance, launched the Ethiopia Joint Response Project in Midhaga Tola district. Through the project’s protection component, a child-friendly space was established within Abdella’s school compound. Designed as a safe and supportive environment, the child-friendly space provides children with opportunities to learn, play, socialize, and receive psychosocial support. It offers a place where children affected by difficult circumstances can express themselves, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with their hopes for the future. 

For Abdella, the space quickly became much more than another room at school. It became a place where he could feel safe, explore his abilities, and rediscover the joy of being a child. Every Monday and Thursday afternoon, he eagerly joins other children in educational and recreational activities. Among all the activities available, one game has become his favorite. 

"Checkers is my absolute favorite game," Abdella says enthusiastically. "It helps me focus, think carefully, and spend time with my friends. It is one of the reasons I enjoy coming to school now." 

Although it may appear to be a simple game, checkers has become an important tool in helping Abdella develop concentration, and problem-solving skills. Each move encourages him to think ahead and remain focused, abilities that have also supported his learning inside the classroom. 

Meaningful connections 

Beyond games and activities, Abdella continues to visit the child-friendly space because of the sense of comfort and encouragement he receives from teachers and facilitators. 

"They always support us and make us feel safe and comfortable," he says. 

This supportive environment has brought visible changes in Abdella’s confidence and behaviour. 

"Abdella’s confidence has improved significantly," his teacher explains. "He participates more actively in class, engages with his peers, and approaches both learning and play with much greater confidence." 

Through his participation in the child-friendly space, Abdella has developed stronger friendships, improved his teamwork skills, and regained the focus needed to continue pursuing his education despite the challenges around him. Like many children who access these spaces, he now sees school as more than a place for lessons and textbooks. It has become a place where he feels safe, valued, and supported to continue pursuing his dreams. 

Keeping dreams alive in difficult times 

The child-friendly space has given Abdella more than a place to play. It has provided a foundation for healing, learning, and dreaming again. For children living in humanitarian settings, difficult experiences can affect their sense of safety, confidence, and hope. Safe spaces like these provide children with the emotional support and protection they need while communities face uncertainty. They remind children that even during the most challenging moments, their dreams still matter. 

Today, Abdella is not only dreaming of becoming a doctor; he is building the confidence, resilience, and skills needed to move closer to that dream. 

His journey shows the powerful impact that safe, child-centered spaces can have on children. With trained facilitators, supportive environments, and opportunities to connect with others, a single safe space can transform uncertainty into hope and help children see possibilities beyond their challenges. For Abdella, the safe space has become a place where he feels understood, supported, and encouraged. A place where he can simply be a child while continuing to dream of the future he wants to create. 

Project impact 

Abdella’s story is one of many from the Ethiopia Joint Response Project. The project provides integrated humanitarian assistance to drought-affected communities in Midhaga Tola district through food security and livelihood support, protection services, and multipurpose cash assistance. 

As part of its protection component, the project has established 10 school-based child-friendly spaces, reaching more than 500 children across the district. These spaces provide critical psychosocial support, strengthen social connections, improve children’s well-being, and encourage school attendance and retention. 

"Children need more than classrooms and textbooks to succeed," explains one of the safe space facilitators. "They need to feel safe, supported, and emotionally secure." 

*To respect the person's privacy, their real name has not been used