How One Risk Education Session Empowered a Girl to Save Lives

Edah's Story

In the quiet village of Al-Zahari, Mocha district, Taiz Governorate, 15-year-old Edah harbors a simple dream: to attend school.  But for many girls in her village, this dream is sidelined by long, arduous journeys that make formal education a distant luxury.

But Edah ’s lack of a classroom never dimmed her sharp mind or her sense of responsibility.

When the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) team, supported by the European Union (EU), arrived in Al-Zahari village, Edah was among the first to listen. As the team explained how a rusted piece of metal could shatter a life in seconds, Edah didn’t just hear information, she felt a call to action.

A memory flashed in her mind: a strange object she had seen before. She interrupted the session, "You need to see this," she insisted. It wasn’t curiosity driving her; it was a profound fear for her family and neighbors.

Edah led the EORE team to the site, where she pointed out a large, unexploded ordnance (UXO). In a desperate but misguided attempt to protect the local children, her father had hidden the weapon high in a tree, fearing that if left on the ground, the children might play with it and trigger a disaster

The team marked the area, advising community members to stay clear, and liaised with the Yemen Mine Action Coordination Cell (YMMAC) to safely dispose of the UXO.

Edah’s story is a testament to the fact that EORE sessions are more than just lessons; they are practical tools for survival. By applying what she learned in a single session, she demonstrated that empowering one individual with the right knowledge at the right time is the most effective way to shield an entire village from hidden threats.