Telling the ECSA Story

Clarisse Kouame had to close her store in Cote d'Ivoire and lost her job because of COVID-19. “But I did not stay there waiting without doing anything. With my association of women, we did a training on producing oyster mushrooms. … I told myself if, in addition to crafts I could have another skill, it will be of great use especially in the future. Even if today I have no financial means, later I intend to make the marketing of mushrooms another source of income. …I still have hope. This is what gives me the strength to be there every day.”        The  International Labor Organization estimated  that by June 30, COVID-19 eliminated 277 BILLION hours of paid work, the equivalent of 400 million full-time jobs. Unlike previous economic crises, those job losses are hitting women the hardest, since women dominate the service industries that are most affected by COVID-19 restrictions. CARE’s research confirms this. In  Lebanon , 49% of women have lost jobs, compared to 21% of men.  Even

  Abdirahman Katsame – A member of Vector and Pest Control team during an interview on 7/8/2020 conducted by Mohammed Bare (CARE incentive staff in Hagadera Refugee Camp in Daadab).   a)       Name, age, job role, location, number of years working as a humanitarian   My name is Abdiraham Abshir Katsame. I am 29 years old. For over two years, I have been   a Vector and Pest Control refugee community worker (RCW) with CARE WASH in Hagadera Refugee Camp.   b)       What does it mean to be a humanitarian worker to you?   It gives me so much happiness to support my community in preventing diseases by disinfecting public institutions and households. At the moment, I am helping in preventing the spread of COVID-19 through regular comprehensive disinfection exercises at Undugu Primary school quarantine centre and Hagadera food distribution centre in Hagadera Camp within Dadaab Refugee Complex.   c)        Why did you decide to start helping your community– why did you choos

  Denice at a Borehole 06 site during borehole rehabilitation (borehole flushing) exercise on 10/08/2020 in Hagadera Refugee Camp in Dadaab Refugee Complex/CARE Kenya.   a)       Name, age, job role, location, number of years working as a humanitarian   My name is Denice Owino Abonyo. I am 48 years old working as a plant and mechanic engineer with CARE Kenya in Dadaab Refugee Camp for the last twenty (20) years.   b)       What does it mean to be a humanitarian worker to you?   Serving humanity by being able to offer assistance to those in need and enriching them through services such as the provision of water for daily use. It also means achieving CARE’s purpose in eliminating poverty, and achieving social justice.   c)        Why did you decide to start helping your community– why did you choose to do it, how did you get into it?   Growing up it was my desire to serve communities through the provision of services and items that make their life better. I was lu

    Hassan Guyo at Daadab Main Offices on 10 th August 2020 /CARE Kenya. a)     Name, age, job role, location, number of years working as a humanitarian   My name is Hassan Huqa Guyo. I am 32 years old. For over 6 years, I have been a Truck Driver with CARE Kenya in Dadaab Refugee Camp.   b)     What does it mean to be a humanitarian worker to you?   I glean with so much joy when I transport basic needs items such as food, dignity kits, and household items to the refugee community members and fuel for boreholes for pumping water. The difference to humanity that is touched by my work, however small keeps me going. c)     Why did you decide to start helping your community– why did you choose to do it, how did you get into it?   The desire to help refugees who lack most of the basic necessities in life even though they are human and are my brothers is what drove me into the humanitarian world.   Hassan Guy

Eleven-year-old Fatumo stays in Ainabo IDP camp in the Sool region of Somalia. Fatumo lost three years of school. The 2017 drought destroyed all her family’s livestock and left them not able to pay for her education. The family was forced to flee and settled at the camp in March 2017. Unfortunately for Fatumo, her joy to start school was delayed again as for 2 and a half years, the camp had no learning center. Her family could not afford to enroll her in the community school in the town, neither could they afford to buy her the essential learning materials needed for her education. Ainabo IDP Camp was established in 2017 as a result of the huge influx of IDPs due to droughts and conflicts in the Sool region. CARE with funding from ECHO, has established two learning centers through the construction of eight temporary classrooms and also provided teaching and learning materials, female hygiene kits, desks and supported six teachers with incentives and training.   The two learning cen