Threads of Hope: How one Returnee Sewed the Fabric of a New Life

"Life was hard before, but now I feel confident for the future”.  

Adela, a recent returnee from Aboja internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in El-Fasher, struggled to make ends meet to feed her family. Living in Kusa Village, North Darfur, every day was a struggle to ensure her family’s needs are met.  

Among Adela’s many worries, her young son suffers from pneumonia, which urges her to seek different ways to earn a living. Due to his weakened immune system, he requires special care, medications, and nutrition. “Not only do I have to care for my sick son, but I am pregnant and have a tumor in my neck, which will require surgery in the future. I did not know how I was going to make it and support my growing family.”  

“Everyone in the village knows about my son’s illness and our struggles. That is why I was selected to participate in the project; the community leader and other members approached me and told me about a project that can help me in my situation and ease my current condition.”  

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) implemented several livelihood programs in North, South, and West Darfur states, funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). The programmes focus on women and youth from IDPs, host communities, and returnees.  

In North Darfur, participants received training on soap making, food processing, sewing, welding, and were provided with a donkey cart. In South Darfur, a vegetable farm with a drip irrigation system and a maintenance business for Tuktuks was   established, as well as training on brick making, welding, and the establishment of a chicken farm. In West Darfur, participants received training in rain-fed agriculture, sewing, soap making and food processing.    

Adela, along with ten other women, also all returnees, received training on how to sew basic clothing for men, women, boys, and girls, as well as training on marketing and developing a financial plan. They were also given a sewing machine as well as fabrics to start their businesses.  

“Initially, I did not have enough money to purchase more fabrics, so I borrowed some money from a neighbour, and started making my own products. Now I travel to Tawila market on a consistent basis, selling my products and earning 11,000 SDG every week. I managed to pay back my neighbor within a week”.  

“This is more than just a sewing project. Agricultural pests have attacked our crops throughout the recent harvest seasons, cutting our income which was already insufficient, but now I feel confident for the future, as I know I am now capable of taking care of myself and my son. Not only am I able to provide for my family, but I have also trained a group of women who wanted to learn the craft so they too can start their businesses. This project has not only helped me but allowed me to help others”.