In a quiet corner of the Nadi Ma’in camp in Al Hazm District, Awadh Abbadi Ali Jaber began his day with a long look at his children, as if searching their faces for an answer to a question that had haunted him for years: How can life go on like this?

Awadh, a 55-year-old man, had never imagined this for his life. Nine years ago, he was forced to leave his city of Dhamar due to displacement, carrying his family and a simple hope of finding stability. But what he found was a completely different reality: a cramped tent, harsh conditions, and a disability that limited his ability to work, leaving him trapped between need and helplessness.

He would say in a low voice:
"I had nothing to rely on… I just lived each day just to get to its end."

Within this life, his suffering was not individual. His children fell sick frequently, and with each illness, he felt a greater burden. He could not easily afford medicine, nor even enough food. The options were limited, even painful.

"The hardest moment was when my children asked for something simple… and I couldn't provide it."

The days passed in this heavy rhythm until a different moment arrived, as part of the Integrated Lifesaving Emergency Response project: addressing food security, health, nutrition, and protection in Maswar District, Amran Governorate; alongside Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Al Hazm District, Al Jawf Governorate.

With funding from the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF),
Awadh received multipurpose cash assistance. It wasn't the first time he had received support, but this time he felt something was different. He faced a real decision.

He did not see the amount as a temporary solution, but as an opportunity. He sat thinking, comparing, searching for an option that suited his health condition and would provide him with a continuous income. In the end, he made his decision.

"I told myself: If I don't change my situation now… it will never change."

He bought a number of sheep. It was a simple beginning, but it carried a much greater meaning. He began caring for them daily, watching over them, and learning how to manage this small project. The road was not easy, but it was different from any other time, because he was walking it with his own will.

Over time, the results began to show. The sheep grew, and Awadh started buying and selling, even with small amounts. But for him, it was a huge transformation.

"When I received my first income from my own work… I felt like I was getting my life back."

This change did not stop with him alone; it reflected on his family. He became able to provide food better, fixing a few with his shelter and buy medicine when needed, which helped reduce his children's suffering. Their sense of security improved, and much of the anxiety that had controlled the details of their day disappeared.

Today, Awadh stands in the same place, but with a different feeling. He is no longer that man waiting for help. Instead, he has become someone who relies on himself, manages his own source of income, and makes his decisions with confidence.

He says with a quiet smile:
"The opportunity I received wasn't just money… it was a new beginning for my life."