(Let us make what we learned a life behavior ... we protect our village from diseases by our hands) The card (Environmental Guards), on which the words were written (Let us make what we learned a life behavior ... we protect our village from diseases by our hands) It is the beginning of the path of Intisar Abdalbari Sharaf to protect her village, Masar Beit Al- Qans, of the epidemics that caused by the waste, as a result of implementing Emergency Cholera Outbreak Response project and in partnership with All Girls Foundation for Development, International Response Organization, Health Offices an awareness campaign to identify cholera, its causes and how to prevent it. Manakhah District was one of the targeted districts in this project. There is no doubt that the rural girl Intisar realized that everyone must preserve the environment, and waste is one of the main causes of environmental disturbance and pollution which range up to all environment elements. There is no doubt that the simple girl of the rural Intisar realized that everyone must preserve the environment, and waste is one of the main causes of environmental disturbance and pollution which range up to all environment elements. She did not realize the importance of preserving the environment silently!! , but did she did a favor of making Environmental Guards Card and distributed them to many children and women in the village, also, she explained to them how to collect waste and where to be placed then safely disposed of by burning, after that washing their hands by water and soap in the right way to prevent diseases. Everyone responded to their village and was eager to get rid of or even reduce the horrific spread of epidemic diseases among their families. Children, women and youth all stick to the phrase they carried (Let us make what we learned a life behavior), so applying to reality made a significant impact on the cleanliness of their village and the beauty of the landscape. (By our hands, we protect our village from diseases), If we focus on this phrase, we will find the psychological and societal motivation for the success of this campaign which made Intisar write her words in a way that created inside each one all those (the spirit of cooperation, sense of belonging, and the determination to save their village from all what may harm its people). These are expressions that at the beginning indicate the encouragement of a certain behavior and at the end the motivation for an action. It is a simple work, but its impact surprised many and and created the love of achieving in people's hearts, and created in everyone who worked in this project the spirit of giving. Jabal Masar village, Manakha district is one of the villages that were reached Intisar’s great achievements after the Emergency Cholera Outbreak Response Project and in partnership with All Girls Foundation for Development, International Response Organization, Health Offices has implemented an awareness campaign to identify Cholera and its causes and how to prevent it. We realized that great minds have goals but others have desires with this rural girl simplicity. Although this girl could not control the cholera epidemic in her village, she realized that she could control her attitude to the disease. We mentioned in the previous story, Environmental Guards Card, the role of Intisar, and the village's residents united together to collect and burn the waste. However, Intisar felt that this step lacked a major aspect and that it was necessary to think about where the villagers put their waste instead of throwing it in several places and re-assembling it. From here Intisar began to think and found that she is a girl living in the village and cannot provide waste baskets. Looking around here and there, finding the stones and trees and trying to meditate to find a suitable idea of what to do and finding nothing Until it is time to bring water from the remote places in that village. Her friends came with yellow cans (10 - 20) liters, which the women used to bring water inside and suddenly, the idea of uprooting the top of the can and keeping it down to be used as a garbage basket. Intisar began to implement her idea and distributed garbage baskets in several places in her villages Masar Beit Al- Qans and Jabal Masar and put a written paper on them (put the garbage here) in addition to distributing other things like (rice bags – sugar bags – flour bags) which called (shwal), in many corners of the villages so that collecting waste became easier and the villagers can find where to put their waste instead of throwing it in different places. The people of the villages joined together and were impressed by this work, and everyone, every woman and every child who had waste found baskets everywhere. It is a real achievement and meaningful work that we all are proud of. This rural girl did not say (I cannot) or (how can I) and even did not grumble or meditate silently, but she believed that she had the strength and determination to make her always say (I can), so she made very amazing achievements by the available possibilities. READ MORE
A professional Designer Amat Al-Razzaq Al-Kazahi is one of the targeted women of the sewing course which was implemented by All Girls Foundation for Development (AGFD) in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) within promoting women’s financial inclusion project in Yemen. Frankly the reason for joining Amat Al- Razak the sewing course is because of the difficult economic situation which is gradually becomes worse and worse. By sewing profession I can sew to the people and neighbors I can reach, so I can support my family or at least contribute to the household expenses. Razak told us that at the beginning of joining the sewing course "I knew nothing about the basics and sewing methods and when I joined the sewing course at AGFD, i learned how to draw and how to start weaving on the Albatron also we learned the types of sleeves and skirt then learned the basic touches of making a dress and the technical touches also to have amazing and attractive dress. AGFD has played a major role in the progress we have reached. It has provided us with sewing machines and sewing accessories and provided a trainer who gave us her experience and information in an easy and flexible way. These are in fact essential things if they were not available we will not be what we are now. She said that the end of this course is not the end of our journey. On the contrary, this is the beginning of our start to open our own project. Finally we thank AGFD and everyone who has had a role in getting us to this advanced stage in the field of sewing. READ MORE
Hard work pays off Sawsan, who had aspirations and hopes, lived in the suburb of "Bani Harith" in the capital Sana'a. This suburb, at the time, lacked education significantly. Therefore, in 2009, the All Foundation for Development provided an educational program in managerial skills and accountancy. Sawsan was selected to attend the sessions of the program; however, Sawsan faced the challenge of transportation to the capital Sana'a where the sessions were held. She used to ride on the box of pickups. It was risky for her to go on such rides for there was a rare presence of women in these types of transport vehicles. This caused a lot of tense in the family and placed a lot of pressure on her shoulders. Although the district was famous for depriving girls of education, Sawsan could overcome these difficulties and obstacles with the help of the psychological and educational support from the Foundation. Today, Susan hard work has paid off and she has been reaping the fruit of her persistent work. She is now working in a legal audit office in a prestigious position at the University of Science and Technology. READ MORE
Qamaria Craftsman The craftsman Yasser Mohammed Abdo Salem was working at one of the Qamaria shops in Sana'a as a worker with a small daily wage and was subjected to the most severe persecution, suffering and unfair pay. The days went on and things got worse, and the low wages he received were unable to meet the basic needs of him, his wife and children. Yasser decided to raise the daily wage by the equivalent of his work effort; these demands were the cause of his expulsion from work. A fatal feeling that breaks the heart when you see a sincere man in his work was expelled from work as the result of asking for the most basic rights. Seeing his wife and children without any one to take care of them, facing the bitterness of need as a result he does not want to print in the memory of his sons the image of the father who failed one day. He walks around here and there and he was told that All-Girls Foundation for Development supports the Yemeni craftsmen. Here he finds a glimmer of hope! He went to the foundation and told them what he had gone through, demanding to give him the opportunity to prove himself it is worth mentioned that he lacks the skill of making molds. The Foundation accepted his request and gave him an opportunity to market his craft in the labor market, where we gave him ready molds and asked him to make an order of up to 200 pieces. Now he is running his own business. He was honored at the opening ceremony of the "Colors of Qamaria unite us" campaign 2017. Through which the Foundation has contributed to the revival of the Yemeni heritage and contributing to raise the income of families producing economic crafts, especially Qamaria industry. The Foundation expressed its rejection of the unfair wages and oppressive treatment exercised by the former head of Yasser. And treated him with fair trade standards such as transparency and price justice, and had his own business in the artisan’s market. READ MORE
Overcoming Life Changes From Bagel District, Salam Humaid was a married lady from the marginalized group. Salam had three young ladies and three little boys. The youngest child of Salam was merely four months old. Salam couldn’t find any peace in her family environment. She rather faced from her husband severe mental and verbal violence. Not only that she was also fully responsible of supporting her family financially. What worsened the situation was that her husband asked her daily for money in order to buy ‘qat’. You not only asked but also sometimes he would force her to do so. Salam works in making products out of palm fronds. However, she did not have enough customers . This was when AGF for Development intervened effectively in marketing her products through coordinating with “ Productive Household Center in Bagel” foundation. Afterwards , Salam noticed remarkable progress improvement in selling her products. The Foundation’s role was played through encouraging Salam based on the principal of social responsibility and the economic empowerment craftsmen by preserving the traditional heritage of Yemen. When Salam was enjoying her life peacefully, the war broke out deteriorating the economic conditions. Consequently, Salam did not have the market anymore. In addition, due to the economic and security deterioration and deepening of the crisis, Salam could not afford the rent money of the simple house she lived in with her family. She resorted to taking a tent in a remote area in Bagel District. Therefore, another intervention of AGF for development came together to meet the call from Salam by coordinating with the partners of the “ Center for Productive Households Center in Bagel” to provide a place of residence for Salam and her family. Also AGF provided Salam with the rent money to make Salam live with less responsibility. This comes in the belief of the institution of the importance and inevitability of the role and humanitarian duty, which is the cornerstone of the development and the work of development institutions and organizations. READ MORE
Zahra , an elderly woman , was taken from the marine storms of disappointment to the shore of hope Zahra is a 50-year-old custodian who has become frail. However, she still supports her family. In addition to that, she has a daughter who has two daughters and married to a paralyzed husband due to the terrible accident he had. Therefore, she became responsible for her daughter and two granddaughters. Pity that the crisis in Yemen made it more difficult for her. Zahra has expressed her great suffer from the financial difficulties she was going through which led her to force her granddaughters to leave school in fear of the requirements they would need when starting school. Lightening the burden that Zahra has been carrying, the AGF fuor Development asked Zahra to bring back her seventh-grade and first grade daughters to school as the AGF will sponsor the expense needed, such as notebooks , books, bags,,,etc to. rejoin school. This was done based on the foundation's belief in building a conscious community and empowering and educating girls. This comes within the framework of ' Return to Schools' campaign implemented by the institution under the slogan "My School Bells have rung" READ MORE
She was about to give up on her ambitions Maleekah, an IT college student , studies at a private university in Sana'a. forward step that the AGF had to take when that girl was a flame perseverance. She possessed unlimited ambtions regarding her dreams and goals. However, due to the crisis that the country is undergoing, her siblings lost their jobs which caused the elimination of the financial support she was being given for her studies. Great depression and frustration befell her whenever she thought about her college and dreams. As if she were building dreams that began to collapse without having in any hand in it. She wanted to be pushed so that she would never give up. Here is when the AGF for Development played its main role and encouraged Maleekah as one of its targets in empowering girls and raising the number of girls in variety level education. READ MORE
Al-Muneera Rural Hospital..From a bitter past to a better future Al-Muneera District in Al-Hodeidah governorate experienced a forgotten, difficult and complicated situation at all levels, especially on the health level, which weighed heavily on the citizen. Al-Muneera Hospital was a pile of stones, which eroded over time due to the erosion factors that left its mark on every part of this forgotten hospital. This has lost the confidence of patients from the people of the district with its potential as well as the people of the districts and other neighboring villages. AFG, with funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), intervened and revitalized the hospital by opening and rehabilitating the reproductive health center, which provides services that were not provided by the government, according to the district's beneficiaries. The Foundation has worked to provide all reproductive health services from family planning services and prenatal even obstetric operations and emergencies are free for all beneficiaries, through the rehabilitation and maintenance of the hospital and the provision of all medical supplies and equipment and medical and technical staff qualified to ensure that women get all these services In the closest place, the easiest and safest way. Numerous cases recorded by the Center after its opening reach in many days up to fifty cases, which created a permanent state of movement to the hospital from more than four other districts adjacent to Al-Muneera (Al-Zaidia, Al-Duha, Al-Qannas and Al-Maqlaf) as the Center operates around the clock to receive and handle all cases. Um Jihad, a native of Al-Muneera district, who we met her on the morning of her birth, says that her husband at midnight helped her on a motorcycle - because he did not have enough money to rent a car to take her to the hospital - and as soon as she arrived at the hospital she received the necessary health intervention and was transferred to the Department of Obstetrics and was born at dawn with ease, smoothness and free. Her husband also confirmed that after his eyes were filled with tears of joy - especially since the birth of his eldest child was in another hospital and cost him huge amounts of debt that he could not pay until recently. With the country's difficult economic and political conditions that have caused more misery, poverty and disease, there is an urgent need for service facilities to alleviate these tough conditions for citizens. To this end, All Girls Foundation (AGF) in partnership with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) has worked to rehabilitate the Reproductive Health Center at Al Munirah Rural Hospital by renovating it, providing it with the necessary medical equipment and supplies, and providing qualified medical staff to operate it perfectly. According to Um Jihad, one of thousands of women who have benefited from free medical services, the reproductive health center has made a great impact on her health and the health of the communities around the center. She also stated that the center had significantly reduced the burden of medical examination and medicine, which enabled her to save additional money that she could spend on other needs of her family. READ MORE
Small Businesses Ensure a Decent Life for IDPs Before the war, Fatima, her father, mother, and seven siblings lived a peaceful and stable life in their house and had their source to generate their income: a seasoning shop that was well-known to everyone in Meedy City. However, when the war came five years ago, they resorted to moving out of Meedy City to Al-Zaidiah City, their whole life was devastated, and the whole family lived the tragedy of displacement and poverty. In addition, they became unable to medicate their sick father who had a traffic accident two months after displacement. It was the accident that left the father with a life-disability and made the family lose their breadwinner. In Al-Zaidiah, they lived in a straw hut in a yard of a house of the locals until finding a better place to live in; however, the straw hut never saved them or their belongings when the rain came; they all get wet. Luckily, Fatima was recognized by AGF’s field team as a beneficiary of cash assistance to start livelihood activities within a shelter project that was managed by AGF and funded by YHF. The project bought a sewing machine for Fatima who worked hard to make dresses and deliver them on time. Fatima said:” I hope to develop my work and expand it to provide some displaced girls with jobs help them to feed their families as I am doing.” READ MORE
Reproductive Health Center in Al-Munirah Rural Hospital ... An Enduring Success Story The success story of the Reproductive Health Center at Al Munira Rural Hospital is a great humanitarian mission. The center started with limited resources and faced great challenges. AGF started the project by providing the center with a gynecologist and four midwives who would provide simple reproductive health services to women. In less than two months, AGF has managed to superbly develop the center. New medical equipment and supplies and high-quality medical care have been introduced to the center. Thus, the people have begun targeting the center from several other areas inside and outside Hodeidah Governorate. Currently, the center run by a staff consisted of consisting of two gynecologists, midwives, pharmacists, nurses, and administrators. Beneficiaries of the integrated reproductive health services can reach more than 12000 per month. The services include Normal delivery, Caesarian sections, Critical Care, ANC, PNC, Family Planning, Pregnancy Care, Vaccination, Health Education, Referrals, and free medicine from the centers’ pharmacy. The popularity of the center is rising in a rapid manner to the extent that Daily checkups can climb up to more than 100 cases per day. This what forces the project management to admit beneficiaries based on priority standards and capacity limitations; however, AGF hopes to expand the project in the coming days. READ MORE
Giving is the master key to success! Fatima Hazazi, a teenager of 18 years old girl from Bani Qais district, Hajjah governorate. She is the eldest daughter of Hazazi family which has 10 members. Her father works in construction, but he became jobless due to the prolonged conflict in the country resulting in deteriorating his family life conditions. Fatima was one of 20 women who were targeted by GPFNS through the basketry development intervention implemented by All Girls Foundation for Development. Fatima was the youngest, but most intelligent, and most accomplished trainee, "She grasps the point quickly. She was even helping me in training other women. She was shining and gave everyone around her hope" Fatima's trainer stated. Fatima knows exactly that life sublimity lies in as much you give, not as much you take. After training completion, she voluntarily took the responsibility of training five of the friends, including the daughter of school's guard in which the training was organized, Halima. " Many of my friends and neighbors as Halima were eager to participate in the training, but only 20 women were targeted. I helped 5 of my friends to learn preparing the fronds, weaving and coloring. They used to come to my house afternoon. I am happy that I made a change in my neighborhood. They are now able to produce their own basketry products" Fatima stated One week after the end of the training, Fatima started her business in basketry. She is now producing 20 pieces per month, 15 pieces to be sold in the market by her father and about 5 pieces to be sold in the village. " I gain about 10.000 YR per month, sometimes more, sometimes less. Fatima said. Although this amount is not a lot, it made a difference for Fatima family in the current situation where her father become jobless " This amount helps my father in providing the required food for our family. My father became older and has no income, there is no works nowadays" Fatima added. Furthermore, Fatima is now the focal point for all target women in Roba' Aboni sub-district. She provides them with all necessary consultation and help to improve the quality of their products "Even some of those who were trained, come to me to help them in doing the final touch and installing the handle for their produced basket. This helps them to sell their products with a good price. I feel sometimes overloaded when they come to me, but what can I do, I cannot reject them!" Fatima stated. Fatima also participated effectively in the event organized by GIZ office in Sana'a on the occasion of Women World Day. She was able to promote for her own and her colleagues' products and to sell a significant number (around 5 pieces) of such products. How beautiful is the spirit of that girl full of love and passion of learning and helping the others! READ MORE
The Simple Worker Who Became a Successful Master Craftsman Yasser was a simple worker at one of the Qamaria shops in Sana'a and was subject to ill-treatment and unfair pay. The days went by and things got worse, and the low wage he used to receive was unable to meet the basic needs of his family. Therefore, Yasser asked to raise his daily wage to a level that would be equivalent to his effort spent at work. Sadly, this was sufficient reason for the shop owner to dismiss Yasser from work immediately. Yasser’s heart broke in half when seeing himself unable to provide basic life needs for his wife and children. It was the painful image of the helpless father that left unpleasant memories for his children. The memories that he worked hard all the past years to prevent them from happening, but they happened. Despite the tragedy, there is always a glimmer of hope! Yasser heard that All Girls Foundation for Development (AGF) had a project to support craftsmen. After telling AGF what he had gone through, he got accepted to be one of the project beneficiaries by utilizing his skill to enter the labor market, and he was given ready samples of qamariat to copy them and prepare an order to 200 pieces. Thus, Yasser was eventually able to gain his own income from his own shop. Yasser was honored at the opening ceremony of the campaign called "The Colors of the Qamariat Unite Us", which was launched by AGF in 2017, which was dedicated to reviving Yemeni handicrafts and increasing the income of families making such products, especially Qamariyat. AGF expressed at the ceremony its rejection of all kinds of abuse that the craftsmen are subjected to by the owners of the workshops. AGF also emphasized that workers had to be treated based on fair criteria such as transparency and adequate wages. READ MORE
Laila’s One Long-Shot Dream comes True Laila (30 years) wakes up every day and appears tired. The hours of sleep are no longer useful to her, because she still feels pain for more than six years since she got married. She stands for minutes in front of the mirror saying to herself “nothing has changed”. She has always had a dream of being a mother, and her eyes most of the time weigh down in tears. She “I have become afraid of people’s inquiries which all end up in: "Why don’t you have children?”." Laila becomes terrified of the idea of aging and loneliness, and that she would continue her life without a child. Perhaps it is her destiny to live in Al Munirah district of Al Hudaydah governorate, during the time of a grinding crisis that has afflicted the entire country, and has particularly increased poverty among the residents of Al Munirah district. For her, in such a hardship where basic life elements are hardly available, any opportunity for treatment outside Al Munirah is extremely far-fetched. As a result, Laila always tends to be alone, for her presence with others exhausts her soul and wears her out like an old garment in the sun. Once, she stays for long hours under the scorching rays of the sun and decides to sort her problem out by selling out her wedding gold to provide the necessary money for treatment to let her dream come true. She takes the money and visits some gynecologists in Al Hodeidah City, but to no avail. Despite that, it looks that there is no much to do for it, Laila remains believing in her heart that God will let her dream come true one day by having a child who will bring joy, happiness, and pleasure to her heart. When the All Girls Foundation for Development (AGF) starts its project in Al Munirah Hospital, she becomes one of the beneficiaries of its services. After a follow-up of her condition in the hospital for six months in sequence, the gynecologist of the hospital discovers that Laila suffers from severe health problems that prevent her from having a baby. During Laila’s visits to the hospital, she receives all quality services, medicines, and tests free of charge. One day, she almost flies with joy feeling the entire universe in her hands when she comes to know that her pregnancy test is positive and that she is indeed pregnant. Laila describes that day as (the birth of a new life for her). Laila’s regular visits to the gynecologist at Al Munirah Hospital are concluded by a successful normal delivery to baby girl as beautiful as the moon. READ MORE
YES Economic Empowerment Program Sahar, one of the women benefiting from the YES Economic Empowerment Program, was able to gain a job opportunity and develop her skills. Sahar has lived through years of displacement and crises, and she is the sole breadwinner for her family of five. Sahar joined the economic empowerment program at the #AGF All Girls Foundation for Development and trained in the field of culinary arts and grape leaves manufacturing. She was able to improve her livelihood and provide income for her family through this opportunity. Despite the challenges she faced, Sahar succeeded in achieving her success, transforming her life for the better, and providing a decent life for her and her family. #AGF #YES #Success_Story READ MORE
AGF-implemented Water Projects: From Sustainability to Growth In 2017, the diesel-powered water project in Mahal Rahmah village, in Az-Zaydiyah District in Hudaydah Governorate, was barely able to supply water to nearly 1,000 local residents in three neighboring villages (Mahal Rahmah, Deir Al-Mahdali and Mahal Kalfood) in the district, let alone have capacity for the large influx of IDPs uprooted by the raging conflict at the time. But after All Girls Foundation for Development (AGF) intervened back then to rehabilitate the Mahal Rahmah water project and build the capacity of the local management committee, with funds from the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF), the host and displaced people could easily access water while the management committee could save the nominal subscription fees over the years to fund other water projects in Deir Al-Mahdali and Mahal Kalfood, as well as Mahal Rahmah itself. AGF’s rehabilitation activities for the Mahal Rahma water project included the following: • Providing the water project with a solar-powered pumping unit, including all the necessary components such as pipes which had been added for the purpose of expanding the network in the area to cover all houses in places of high density in the local communities and those houses and IDPs collective sites at the outskirts of the targeted area. • Implementing of 20 water points in suitable places that guarantee easy and fair distribution of water to IDPs. Now, seven years after AGF has intervened in the area, each of these three villages has its own water project. The AGF’s intervention in 2017 came as part of a “life-saving integrated intervention services” project, which included WASH, Shelter, Health and Protection services. The project’s total beneficiaries amounted to 55,507 host and displaced people in Az-Zaydiyah District. It is noteworthy that AGF has also implemented a WASH project in the same district of AzZaydiyah and the same year. This project, which was entitled “WASH and Protection”, was nominated in 2023 for the Energy Globe Award– ‘today’s most prestigious environmental award, given annually to projects saving our environment by personal action, sustainable projects or campaigns for raising awareness in sustainability.’ All Girls Foundation for Development (AGF) is an award-winning and woman-led organization, which was established in the city of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen in 2003. It carries a development vision and a human dimension that change is the people and the people are the change! This vision appears in a diverse series of integrated projects implemented in the past two decade. AGF has positively affected the lives of thousands of young people and women, by implementing educational, economic, empowerment and reproductive health programs and providing humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of vulnerable Yemenis in need, especially women and girls. READ MORE