“I Work Day and Night So My Daughter Can Study”, Cash for Work Brings Alya Income.
Alya is 26 years old, a Syrian refugee living in Nabatieh Al Fawqa with her seven-year-old daughter. When she was only nineteen, she faced violence at home. After her husband tried to harm their daughter, she made the difficult decision to leave and raise the child on her own.
Since then, she has carried the responsibility of caring for her daughter without any other provider. She worked in domestic jobs for very low wages, saving what she could to keep her daughter in school. Education was always her priority, even when the money was not enough. “I work day and night so my daughter can study. I am illiterate, I cannot read or write, but I want her to become a better person,” she says.
Her situation began to change when she learned about a Cash-for-Work project implemented by Action Against Hunger with support from the German Government through KfW Development Bank. She applied through the municipality and was accepted. Although she felt nervous at first, fearing judgment from others, she soon found herself in a professional and respectful environment. “I felt safe, respected, and heard,” she explains.
Alya during her work as part of the Cash-for-Work project implemented by Action Against Hunger with support from the German Government through KfW Development Bank.
Although Alya usually finds work in agriculture, her psoriasis often makes this difficult during flare-ups. With us, she was instead engaged in a cash-for-work road-cleaning activity, which was better suited to her situation. Because of her condition, she was given a supervisory role, where her natural leadership earned the respect of her team. With her first payment, she proudly covered her daughter’s school fees, later sharing her joy when her daughter was recognized among the top students in her class.
“This project gave me more than income. It gave me the chance to prove myself, to support my daughter, and to feel confident in who I am.”
Looking ahead, Alya dreams of a future where her daughter continues to succeed at school and where women like her have more opportunities to work with dignity. She hopes that projects like this continue so that other women facing hardship can find the same support she did.
“This experience gave me stability, self-respect, and a chance to stand on my own,” she says. “I will keep fighting for my daughter’s future, and I hope to see more women find the courage to do the same.”
This Cash for Work project was implemented by Action Against Hunger with funding from the German Government through KfW Development Bank, offering women like Alya the opportunity to earn an income, regain confidence, and build safer lives for their families.
