A stitch towards a better future: Fakhria's story

As their situation worsened, Fakhria made the painful decision to withdraw her children from school because she could no longer afford to keep them there. At their lowest point, the family was forced to rely on begging to survive.

When conflict reached the outskirts of Sana'a in 2016, Fakhria and her family were forced to flee their home, leaving behind everything they had built and the life they knew. After a long journey, they settled in a displacement camp in Lahj governorate, where they began the difficult task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. 

Recognising the household's vulnerability, the Cash Consortium of Yemen (CCY), with funding from the European Union, enrolled Fakhria's family in its Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) programme.

The assistance enabled the family to meet their immediate needs, but Fakhria saw it as something more than temporary relief. Without receiving any additional livelihoods support or business grant, she made the decision herself to invest part of the assistance in a sewing machine and tailoring materials—an investment she believed could provide her family with a lasting source of income. She also purchased a small solar power system with battery storage, allowing her to continue working despite the prolonged electricity outages that frequently affect Lahj.

The sewing machine quickly became much more than a household asset—it became the foundation of a new livelihood.

Women from across the camp began bringing clothes for alterations and tailoring, while Fakhria's daughter-in-law joined her to help meet the growing demand. As the business generated a steady income, the family was finally able to look beyond day-to-day survival.

Carefully saving their earnings, Fakhria and her daughter-in-law invested in a large refrigerator, allowing them to launch a second small business selling ice cream to children in the camp during Lahj's intense summer months. The additional income diversified the family's livelihood and strengthened their financial stability.

Today, the two businesses work hand in hand, providing an income that enables Fakhria to support her family with dignity.

Her greatest hope is to ensure that all seven of her children remain in school and have opportunities that conflict denied to their parents. She dreams of continuing to grow both businesses so that her family can become fully self-reliant and never again have to depend on humanitarian assistance.

For Fakhria, the sewing machine represents far more than a source of income. It represents the opportunity to transform emergency assistance into a more secure future through her own determination, initiative and hard work.

Fakhria's story illustrates how unrestricted cash assistance goes beyond emergency relief. It gives families the flexibility to address their most pressing needs while restoring their ability to make meaningful choices, invest in their futures and rebuild their lives with dignity.