Yasser: Life after loss

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Yasser is one of Yemen’s many underprivileged, orphaned children. Yasser is the eldest in his family of four children; the family’s income was very low, and after losing Yasser’s father, they could barely afford the basic necessities to survive. On one particularly difficult night, he couldn’t sleep worrying about how he could ever afford to purchase the school supplies he needed to attend school.

Because of his family’s desperate situation, Yasser eventually stopped leaving his house; it was too upsetting for him to see the neighborhood children playing, carefree and enjoying toys he knew his family could never afford.

Since the launch of a KSrelief program to help Yemen’s orphans, Yasser’s life has begun to change for the better. The program provides cash sponsorships for orphaned children, and this urgently-needed financial support helps to ensure that Yasser’s family can take care of their basic needs. Yasser has begun to play and interact with his friends again, and has hope for the future. The project also encourages Yasser and children like him to discover their potential and pursue their dreams so that they can help to support themselves and their families in the future.

Orphaned children like Yasser who suffer from the harsh living conditions that exist in much of Yemen need more support and attention than many other at-risk groups. Children are particularly vulnerable during humanitarian crises such as prolonged conflicts, and require special care and close follow-up, and orphaned children even more so.

KSrelief is implementing its “Empowering Orphans and Strengthening their Resilience” project in a number of governorates across Yemen to provide focused, integrated care for Yemeni orphans and their families. Cash sponsorships, psychological and health care services and reintegration programs are just some of the components of this important initiative to ensure that these children are able not only to survive, but to thrive.