Helping displaced families find new ways to earn a living

“Our living conditions are hard, but after I took part in the vocational training I was hired in a repair shop, and things are getting better,” said Nakhly, a displaced father from Al Hudaydah, who is currently living with his family in Marib.

Six years of conflict in Yemen have left countless people without any source of income, and job prospects are limited as the country’s economy continues to crumble.

Displaced and host communities suffer from poor access to sustainable and viable livelihoods. An estimated 80 percent of Yemen’s population need some form of humanitarian assistance or protection. The crisis has increased vulnerability in communities across Yemen, and people are resorting to negative coping strategies for survival.

Nakhly’s story

Before his displacement, Nakhly was a Sharia Law student at Al Hudaydah University. He battled illiteracy in his community by teaching people to read, and he was an Imam. But when the conflict broke out, Nakhly was no longer able to live a safe and comfortable life in Al Hudaydah, so he fled to the Al Wadi district in Marib governorate with his family.

While in Marib, Nakhly was fortunate to continue working as a schoolteacher and an Imam. He was able to build himself a small house and get married during this challenging time. His wife gave birth to their beautiful daughter, Fatima. But not long after, things deteriorated: The mosque Nakhly’s work closed, and he stopped receiving his stable salary from the school due to the economic crisis.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), through support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), provided vocational training and in-kind small business grants to almost 600 people from several local communities in Marib and Hadramaut throughout June and July. This gave hope to people who no longer had a source of income.

“I heard that IOM provided vocational training, and I enrolled to be an HVAC [heating, ventilation and air conditioning] technician,” said Nakhly.

“I joined the training because I was looking for a better source of income to provide for my wife and one-year-old daughter, as well as my sick mother back in my village, whose medicine I pay for,” he added.

Nadia's story

Nadia, like many other Yemenis, is the sole provider for her family. Taking on the responsibility for her three young children and her husband, Ezzaldeen, whose back problems force him to stay home, meant she was unable to work. The young mother was seeking a source of income, and despite always wanting to become a hairdresser she lacked the guidance and tools to get started.

“I was not able to do this type of work because I wasn’t able to buy the equipment that I needed. And I am the only provider for my family, since my husband is ill and cannot work,” said Nadia.

Nakhly and Nadia are only two out of 575 others who took part in the vocational training, obtaining new skills that enabled them to earn a living and provide for their families.

“I used to go out on the street daily, looking for someone who may need my help to fix their stuff. I did that for free so I could gain a good reputation and experience in my new line of work. As soon as I finished this training, I was offered a job in a repair shop,” said Nakhly, describing how the training opened new doors for him. Unlike most participants, he opted to work in an established business rather than start his own business.

The repair shop owner soon trusted Nakhly with full responsibility of running the repair shop, and he is excelling in his role. Now, he is working hard to improve his family’s situation for generations to come. He was able to pay off his debts and buy more groceries for his family than he could previously.

Nadia is also happy, as she can finally follow her dream of being a hairdresser. She is currently working from her house and helping her friend Sagheera by employing her to work at her home salon. Sagheera is a divorced mother of three who was displaced from Al Hudaydah.

“IOM trained us really well and gave us nice tools to use. I am a talented hair stylist, so I am able to provide for my family now,” Nadia added.

Nakhly and Nadia still hope to open their own independent shops and continue to grow their businesses.

Through IOM and KSA’s collaboration, 250 households in Marib (1,750 individuals) and 325 households in Hadramout (2,275 individuals) benefited from vocational training and small in-kind business grants. This support to the people of Yemen, such as Nakhly and Nadia, has changed their lives and the lives of their families for years to come.