Telling the ECSA Story

Zeinab Farah who accomplished her national Grade 8 exams. CARE International in Somalia At just 16, Zeinab Ali Farah has achieved something remarkable: she became the top student in Jubaland state, Somalia, in the national Grade 8 exams. Her success is a personal victory and a powerful testament to the transformative impact of the Girls' Education and Empowerment Program (GEEPS) in Somalia. One that may not have been reali z ed due to circumstances beyond her control.     Zeinab, born into a big family in Kismayo, knows firsthand the struggles girls face in Somalia. Education is a distant dream for many girls, held back by poverty, droughts, early marriage, the constant threat of conflict, dwindling resources that forced parents to prioritize boys' education, and harmful traditions that kept them from reaching their potential. Zeinab's goal of becoming a teacher seemed almost unattainable , overshadowed by her community's harsh realities of life.     "I used to

Angelina Nyabany in her backyard garden in Mayom County, Unity State. CARE South Sudan/Kenyi Evans In Mayom County, South Sudan, conflict, flooding, and economic instability have pushed thousands into the grip of severe food insecurity and malnutrition. Families face a relentless struggle to survive. According to reports, South Sudan's Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) levels remain alarmingly high, with 46 out of 80 counties, including Mayom County, exceeding the WHO emergency threshold of 15%. Women and girls face heightened vulnerability across all aspects of food security, including availability, access, utilization, and stability. Women like 50-year-old Angelina Nyabany Wadar, a mother of three, faced impossible choices: skipping meals to feed her children, scavenging for wild foods, and watching helplessly as malnutrition threatened the lives of her little ones. Angelina was displaced by flooding that submerged her home and crops in Loath. Angelina's life took a dramatic tu

Daniel and Uzamukunda Jacquelin riding the bicycle together. CARE Rwanda In 1997, Muhawenimana Daniel and Uzamukunda Jacqueline embarked on a daunting journey of marriage that was extremely difficult and full of challenges that put a lot of strain on their well-being and family life. Their home environment was toxic due to harmful cultural traditions and gender norms. Daniel, influenced by societal expectations, believed he should have complete authority over all household decisions, finances, and property management. This power imbalance led to a lack of communication, and understanding, and went as far as leading Daniel into intimate partner violence. Financial mismanagement exacerbated their problems, compounded by Daniel's excessive drinking. Influenced by destructive impulses from his paternal family, he engaged in polygamous relationships, neglecting his responsibilities to provide for his family. Jacqueline was left struggling to afford basic needs such as their children'

Women gather together for a meeting. CARE International Amidst the rolling landscapes of Oromia’s Borena Zone and Tigray’s Central and Eastern Zones, stories of hope and resilience are emerging. Adi Abduba, a 75-year-old widow with a disability, lives in the remote Boji Kebele, Dhas Woreda (District), in Ethiopia’s Oromia regional state. Like countless others in this arid region, her life has been a relentless struggle against poverty and hunger. A devastating drought wiped out 20 of her family’s cattle, pushing her to the brink of despair. With no food and little hope, Adi faced an uncertain future. “I was experiencing a lot of hardship before receiving the cash,” Adi said. “There were days when we went without eating, and my family couldn’t bear to see my suffering.”  Adi’s story is a poignant example of the challenges faced by millions in Ethiopia. Many regions across the country are experiencing systemic food insecurity. While the country has seen a substantial decline in poverty o

In the Mutare rural district, many young people are trapped in a cycle of poverty, hindered by inadequate education and scarce resources. For Lisa , a 17-year-old Chitora Secondary School Zimunya Ward 21 student , this was a common case she knew affected her community. Like many students, Lisa found it difficult to imagine a future beyond secondary school, as the consistently low Ordinary-level exam pass rates cast a shadow over her aspirations. Also, t he lack of resources and support made the journey seem overwhelming and challenging.   Lisa 's family situation further compounded her predicament. Her three older siblings had struggled to navigate the education system, leaving Lisa with little guidance or hope. With her parents struggling to make ends meet, it was Lisa's dream to transform the family’s standard of life for the better and a good education was the gateway to that dream.   "I was facing immense difficulties with my studies," Lisa confessed, her voic

A resident of Kassala town carrying his belongings. CARE Sudan "Heavy rains have struck conflict-ravaged Sudan, exacerbating this already-dire humanitarian crisis. As a result of the floodwaters, families, and individuals shattered by war across the country must now cope with more disease, displacement, and death. To date, at least 68 innocent lives have been lost to the flooding. Survivors of relentless displacement since last year are forced to seek shelter yet again as the spaces where they have sought refuge have been washed out. With collapsed sanitation systems and medical care on the brink, the risk of cholera and other diseases, especially in crowded displacement sites, looms large. Women and girls, already trapped in a cycle of gender-based violence, are particularly susceptible to this deteriorating context. The floods have amplified their suffering, exposing them to even greater risks. CARE continues to implore all parties to this conflict to not only cease hostilities