Through Hardship and Loss a Mother’s Fight for Hope

Having grown up in a small village near Lalibela in the Amhara region, Fasika, a 37-year-old mother of two, has faced a lifetime of hardship. Growing up in a low-income farming family with eight siblings, she spent her childhood working instead of attending school regularly, helping her family survive. While other children attended school, she spent her early years working as a shepherd, housemaid, and babysitter helping her family make ends meet. Despite these challenges, she held on to the hope of a different life. 

As a young woman, she moved to Lalibela in search of new opportunities. There, she began attending school and built a life with her partner. Together, they welcomed two sons, Abraham and Muluken, and for a time, life felt stable and full of promise. That stability was shattered in 2021 when her partner was sent to serve with federal and regional forces in the Tigray conflict, and he never returned. Suddenly, Fasika became the sole provider for her children, and although she received government compensation, the absence of financial knowledge meant the money was soon gone. By 2023, Fasika’s life had narrowed to irregular daily labor physically demanding work that barely sustained her family.

“I felt lost,” she recalls, tears in her eyes. “There were times I didn’t know what to do. Life felt so gloomy, with no direction.” 

A turning point 

Everything began to change when she joined the Family Strengthening and Child Development Project in Lalibela, implemented by SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia with support from SOS-Kinderdorf Schweiz. Identified as one of 450 vulnerable caregivers, Fasika received training in child protection, financial literacy, and livelihood skills where she chose tailoring, a decision that would later transform her life. 

“I didn’t miss a single day of training,” Fasika says. “Even when it rained, I went. I couldn’t lose this chance.”

With the small stipend she received during the training, she also supported her eldest son, Abraham, to attend tailoring classes, passing on a powerful lesson about investing in skills and the future. 

A new beginning  

Today, Fasika is among the 116 caregivers who graduated from the training program. She now earns a steady income through tailoring sewing dresses, repairing clothes, and making men’s shirts. In addition, she runs a small goods shop and works part-time alongside other women in a town cleaning service. She has developed the habit of saving regularly, plans to expand her business, and even shares her knowledge with neighbors, advising them on budgeting and small business practices. Her sons are thriving in school, with Abraham already beginning to follow in her footsteps as a tailor.

“I feel proud when I see someone wearing a dress I made,” Fasika says with a smile. “Now I have hope, independence, and a future I never imagined.” 

About the project 

The first phase of the Family Strengthening and Child Development Project, implemented from 2023 to 2025, has supported 900 children and 450 caregivers like Fasika, providing access to education, health services, livelihood opportunities, and child protection. Fasika’s journey is a powerful reminder that, with the right support, even the most difficult circumstances can be transformed into a story of resilience, dignity, and hope. 

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