In the village of Al-Zuhari, located in the Al-Mukha district of Taiz Governorate, Yemen, where modest huts made of palm fronds are scattered, lives Haifa Al-Shujaa, a 22-year-old young woman. She is married but does not have her own home with her husband who suffers from a psychological condition, so she resides with her parents and sisters. Her family relied entirely on her father’s meager and irregular income.
“Before the training, I had no skills, no job, and no way to support my family,” Haifa recalls.
The war’s economic fallout pushed them deeper into hardship, until Haifa discovered a lifeline: through the Increasing Resilience Project through Innovative and Sustainable Improvement of Food Security and Livelihoods, funded by BMZ and implemented by ADO in partnership with DKH, Haifa received vocational training where she learned many valuable skills, such as fish preservation and processing (drying and salting), and SME planning and establishment.
“The training taught me how to turn fish into value-added products—something I never imagined possible,” she says.
The support extended beyond vocational training. Haifa and her colleagues received startup kits for a small project, including ovens, blenders, durable stainless steel cooking tools, storage containers, safety gear, and a solar energy system.
It includes essentials like spices, oil, and a digital scale, ensuring efficient, eco-friendly operations and other related tools that enable them to start their work. “I received the necessary tools to work and earn a livelihood for myself and my family,” Haifa said.
Afterreceiving the equipment, Haifa and her colleagues were able to start their SME.
They began drying and salting fish, producing and selling various types of tuna, and extracting oils and some cosmetic powders from fish. “Currently, we are working and have a source of income.
The most important thing is that I am now able to help my family and support my father with expenses,” Haifa explained.
Today, Haifa’s enterprise is a beacon of innovation in her community. Her success has stabilized her family’s finances and ignited ambitions to scale her business. “My dream is to grow this project, employ more women, and make it sustainable,” Haifa shares.
She extends heartfelt gratitude to ADO, DKH, and BMZ: “Thank you for giving us the tools to rewrite our story.
This support transformed despair into dignity.”
Haifa’s story is an inspiring success story, demonstrating how strong willpower and determination can overcome difficulties and challenges.
It also highlights the importance of support and training in empowering women, helping them achieve their dreams, and improving their living standards.