Changing People's lives

Ali Mohammed Hulisi had spent twelve years in bed. Unable to move after a bout of malaria affected his nervous system, his life seemed to be over. After being the sole provider for his five children, his sister, his mother, and his wife, he became completely dependent on them to survive. Unable to walk, he was confined to his bedroom, where he spent his days dreaming of better days. After selling his land in order to afford treatment, he realized that his money was being wasted fruitlessly, as no improvement was being achieved. Due to the fact that modern medicine had not worked for him, he started going to a traditional healer which also proved to be futile. After many disappointments and frustrations, Ali gave up all of his hope and decided to remain at home in his bed. One day, a visitor came to his house. She advised him to go to ADRA’s office and get physical rehabilitation from a man named Abdullah Yassin. Some days later, Ali came to the ADRA office in Hais without much hope, as he already knew that modern medicine and traditional healers had not been able to help him in the past. After about a year of treatment, Ali Mohammed Hulisi is now able to walk. Our office provided him with daily treatment free of charge, and also trained his wife on how to help him carry out his excercises at home. A couple days ago, I saw Ali Mohammed with a wide smile in his face. He came to our office on his two legs, to wave our team goodbye as his treatment had finally ended. As Ali, many villagers in Hais have regained a sense of hope. As we all know, anything is possible under the sky.

The Story of Assala

Assala Abdulkader is an extraordinary Yemeni girl. She is smart, clever, and fun. If you are sad, she knows how to put a smile on your face. If you are gloomy, she knows how to brighten up your day. Her big black eyes are always filled with love and hope. As all exceptional girls, she lives in an exceptional country. Yemen, her native land, is a wondrous land where camels, falcons, and chamaleons abound. Its sights, sounds, and smells are unique, and its people, the most hospitable and friendly in the whole world. The women in Yemen wear a long black dress called ‘balto’, and cover their faces with a black veil called ‘niqab’, while men usually wear white robes and golden belts. Assala’s hometown, Hais, is in the middle of the desert. Camels and sheep are common, and most people are fishermen and goat herders. Even though you would think Assala is the luckiest girl in the universe, she has been struggling all of her life with one particular thing: she was born deaf. In her silent world, Assala did not know how to communicate with the people around her. She would always try hard, but there was no way she could get her point across. Many days, months, and years went by, and Assala became very lonely and sad. As her suffering continued to increase, she became increasingly frustrated and upset. The fact that she could not go to school like the rest of the children made her feel isolated, and she didn’t have many friends. Her four sisters did not understand her, and would not play with her as she never knew how to follow the rules. Yemen being a disadvantaged country, there was no place for a special child like her. One day, Assala’s life changed. While walking down the street, she met a friendly man who noticed her disability. The friendly man quickly started teaching her several key motions in sign language. Assala became very happy as he was the first person who had taken the time to understand her problem and bring hope to her silent life. Bakheel, ADRA’s sign language professor, was happy to discover Assala. He went to her house and talked to her family. Her mother was so happy she started crying. Her father gave Bakheel a hug and sent his daughter to class. Assala is now a ray of light. She is always energetic and lively, and loves to hang out in ADRA’s office. She has found a safe haven where children like her can learn how to connect with the world and share their joys and their sorrows. These days, when Assala does not come to the office, we all miss her. Girls like her are hard to find!

Abdullah's story

After 13 years of constantly feeling ashamed and embarrassed, Abdullah Hamed has finally been cured of the condition that had stigmatized him his whole life. On August 18th, 2009, Abdullah got surgery for his cleft palate condition, a physical deformity that had made his life miserable. After his father died some time ago, Abdullah was left living with his mother, who had to support him and his four brothers. Throughout his life, Abdullah had continuously been teased and made fun of. He usually ate by himself due to the fact that other people felt disgusted when they ate in front of him. He could not attend many social gatherings because other children used to be afraid of him. Many of his family members considered him to be a bad omen, and prohibited some of his cousins to be around him. This made Abdullah very sensitive and insecure, reaching a point where he could not be around people. “Getting this operation has been the most important thing in my life. I know that from now on everything will be different!”. Abdullah and four other children were jointly sponsored by ADRA’s PHY IV and Yemen Smile, who are planning to continue its association by sponsoring several other groups of children from the Hais district of Hodeidah. There are many other children like Abdullah, who have never had the opportunity or the financial capability to solve a serious medical problem that can be solved with a relatively low cost surgery. After Abdullah called his mother from Sana’a to tell her that he had been cured of his cleft lip, his mother cried and blessed Allah and ADRA for giving her son another chance. After returning back to Hays with the 5 cured children, many families were deeply grateful for the work ADRA is doing in this remote region in Yemen. As a father of one of the patients said, “We are very happy and want to deeply thank ADRA and their team for helping our community, and we are praying to Allah so that you can continue changing people’s life in our community”.

New Begginings - PHY IV

Adra Yemen in Hais is proud to introduce a new chapter in its history, the Assistance to Physically Challenged Programme 2009-2010 (PHY IV). The program will continue the 2006-2009 agenda, which targets the physically challenged by raising awareness, physiotherapy sessions, vocational training, micro loans, and providing access to health facilities by covering patients treatment and rehabilitation. The program also wants to add to its portfolio a new adult literacy / microloans initiative, and a new training program which will target family members of physically challenged individuals.

PHY IV is also proud to introduce its new program manager, Alan Delmonte. Alan is originally from the Dominican Republic, but later on moved to the United States where he completed a Bachelor in Arts majoring in Finance from Manhattanville College, and a Masters in Public Health from Boston University. He also brings a wide range of experience from working in the financial sector in New York, where he worked in companies such as MBIA, Northwestern mutual, and the Winter Group. He later on moved to the public sector and worked with several NGO's in Boston and the Dominican Republic, working in companies such as John Snow, Inc and MSH, where he carried out his duties as Administrative Associate and Financial Associate.

Everyone in the ADRA Hais staff is very happy to begin this new chapter in our history, and we look forward to expand our services in the Hodeidah Governorate.

Last Pose with A friend

Here in Yemen, the women wear black cloaks and veils that cover everything but the eyes. Most women do not allow their picture to be taken, or only do so after much deliberation.

My sadeek is different. Her spontaneity and friendly character make your day a pleasant one, and she is somehow unique. She bravely removed her black cloak and veils when I asked her for a picture. She immediately said YES, as long as we are together in the picture- so here we are, together and my last pose with my "Sadeek" friend.

Abeda Marool is a 55 years old. She is single and was never married. Abeda said that she did not choose not to get married, but did not have the chance to because she has to take care of her mother who has cataracts and her niece who has cerebral palsy. When her brother got married and his wife delivered a baby girl with cerebral palsy, her brother immediately gave Abeda the custody of the child. Now, her niece is already 20 years old and Abeda treats her like her own daughter.

In Yemen, when impairment occurs in the family, whether from birth or by accident later in life, the family has to re-organize their resources of labor, time and capital in order to meet the new needs. This is what Abeda had to do, to provide for her neice, herself, and her mother. Abeda makes her own livelihood, takes care to her niece and to her mother, and at the same time attends to their household chores.

Abeda has been a recipient of SED (Small Enterprise Development) since 2007, when she received 30,000.00 YR (150.00 USD) from ADRA Yemen. She bought two female and one male sheep that gave her three lambs. She later sold her sheep and was able to get another three with the help of a loan. Abeda says “Now I am benefiting from SED and I am very happy because I don’t feel alone, ADRA Hais is with me to assist me in giving life to my mother and to my niece.”

“A healthful thanks to ADRA”, were her parting word.

Like Abeda, many people here in Hais has been nice to me. They are with me in time of struggle and adjustment to live a life in the middle of the desert. My time is up here in Hais City. My life has been difficult and a challenging one but the learning I've got cannot be paid by any amount. With the emptiness and isolation I experienced in most weekends, I feel closer to the divine source of my life, though I am miles away from my family. It has been three years now that I am wondering around the globe, I've have seen many faces of poverty, and how the disadvantaged cope with and I keep asking my self is there really equality? where is justice? the answer is hard to find but I always find myself in one conclusion we will never be forsaken, there is always somewhere there in the cross road to save you,... just keep trusting HIM!!!

Goodbye beautiful and genuine people of Hais, you made me closer to my creator.

Needle and Thread

The most important participations of women especially girls in our village are collecting water, firewood and shepherding. They consume around seven hours of their day performing these tasks apart from cleaning, washing and looking after to their younger brothers and sisters.

Very few attend the school due to different factors such as distance, no female teacher, financial incapacity, and education is less valuable.



The girls mostly in rural and mountainous area set their mind of getting married. They are dreaming of an extra ordinary wedding party, brilliant wedding gown and shining gold for their accessories.

For almost a decade our dedicated Sewing Class Trainer Dina Ismail reaches out many young women and girls especially those with disability to learn basic sewing. Gradually our sewing class empowered numbers of women to learn skills, be productive and self reliant. ADRA Hais Sewing class created mindshift to our girls, now our young women become interested of joining and completing sewing class and to attend to their graduation party.

This year, we have 24 trainees who completed the 8months training on sewing skills. The graduation party was held last June 9,2009. This was attended by different key leaders of Hais City. We have complete attendance from Hais City Council, the head of Hais Hospital; our Imams and Sheik.



ADRA Yemen Country Director Mr. Nagi Khalil and our new Programme Director Ms. Mirriam Watt graced the occasion and supported Hais team to make this event a success. The graduates received gifts from ADRA Yemen like pens and paper printed with ADRA Yemen logo.

Out of 24 graduates, there are four females who received SED Loan in the forms of sewing machine. This is to start their business in sewing Abaya and other traditional clothing. Borrowers of sewing machine has to pay their loan for 8 months without interest and the monthly payment will be 3,000.ooYR (15.00USD). This experience created an impact that emancipate many women from traditional way of life like getting married, giving birth, and attending to their daily tasks.

Fatima Shobel is an example, she is deaf and mute; she completed her sewing class last year 2007. Since then she is assisting Dina in her class and in spite of her impairments she can transfer her skills to other women. She has been an inspiration to many young women with or without disability. Fatima does not stop there she also attended and completed our sign language training. Her confidence and smartness increases since she can communicate well through lips reading, body and sign language and finger spelling. Indeed ADRA works and reaches the most marginalized in YEMEN be it in the middle of the desert and or in the mountain. Thanks to ADRA for using us, the Hais Team as an instrument of fruitful changes to many girls and women here in Hais…..

A Boy with five names and bladder stone

Jonh F. Kennedy the 35^th US President quoted that “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and best hope for the future” thus we have to provide them with all the love, care and protection they needed. KASSIM AMIN KASSIM ALI HAMANH, a five year old boy residing in our village here in Hais City, had blurred future due to his pain.

Kassim is the youngest of 8 siblings, for five years he is suffering from pain and makes it difficult for him to move. He cannot stand alone and cries whenever urinating.

His father with the same name, Kassim, brought his son to ADRA Hais office for help. Our team decided to refer him to AL – Aquasa Hospital in Hodeida for diagnosis, laboratory test, X-ray and Ultrasound. The result showed that this boy has single large bladder stone which is 20mm and in need of cystolithotomy to remove it. This procedure will cost 50,000YR (250.00USD) excluding post surgery medication, hospital bills and Doctor’s fees.

Being the sole breadwinner of the family, Kassim (the father) was helpless to have the surgery for his son. His income from selling vegetables in the market is not enough to sustain the needs of his family. He said, they have to tighten their belts to make their both ends meet. He relies to Allah and from the intervention of ADRA.

The five years suffering came to an end on May 25,2009. Our CBR Coordinator, Abdullah assisted the father and son “Kassim” in Al-Aquasa Hospital for surgery. They spent two days and one night in the hospital;on the third day the boy walked in the office carrying small bottle with his stone inside.

The father and son are very grateful to ADRA and to Allah for this blessing.

“Sa’aadati kaamilat” My happiness is complete says the boy Kassim. His smile radiate all the possibility of having brighter future for him and his family. Thanks to ADRA....

“Can’t Cry Hard Enough”

The United Nation World Food Program report states that about 53% of Yemeni children (24,000) under the age of five are suffering from malnutrition and our village of Hais cannot escape this harsh reality. It is almost a decade now that we have served the Hais community and with those years we have seen that indeed malnutrition is a serious problem. It also contributes to the continuous occurrence of disability, along with other factors such as road/traffic accidents, poor medical practices, hereditary issues, iodine and Vitamin A deficiency, infectious diseases and non infectious diseases; congenital diseases and others.

Hunger and malnutrition, as well as disability and poverty are inextricably linked. Fifty percent of disability is preventable and 20% of impairments are caused by malnutrition. The Hais Government Hospital documented 275 case of malnourished children in Hais City and the causes are deeply rooted. Even cases of mothers and their unborn foetus are malnourished due to cultural problems. Chewing of “Kat” continues to be a problem. It is very common in our village of Hais that men, women and even children chew Kat, a leaf from the Catha Edulis tree with an amphetamine effect that is followed by a quiet mood. Kat severely reduces the appetite of women and leaves pregnant mothers without food for considerable times, causing malnutrition for both mother and unborn infant. Chronic shortfalls in access to foods are also a serious issue that leads many rural Yemeni to skip their meals and other vitals needs such health and education. The women seem to use the chewing of Kat as a coping mechanism and this contributes to the vicious cycle of poverty.

Our ADRA team in Hais initiates supplemental feeding activity to address malnutrition and at the same time to reduce disability prevalence in Hais. In coordination with the Hais Government Hospital we came up with a priority list of beneficiaries. With the use of improvise materials we measure the height and weight of our beneficiaries. As you can see, a boy can’t cry hard enough for some reasons, maybe he starving, ill or afraid of our weigh scale. We also measure height using the tape measure from our sewing class and foot rule from our weaving class. Our CBR worker has prepared Improvised Gerber baby food which we called “Tagdiah”. We combine wheat, rice, corn, sugar, (Habat Alsouda and Adas local Yemeni seeds) grind it together, dry, then boil and it turns out to be delicious and the best baby food I have tried. It takes two days to prepare the mixture and the feeding day falls every Wednesday. Beneficiaries usually have two packs of ready mixture to take home for consumption.

"Hadeeh" The Gift

“Hadeeh”
It is how we say GIFT in our Arabic Language. After six months of endeavor finally ADRA Hais received a Brand new car from ADRA Canada. It is Toyota Hi- Ace Van the latest model, complete accessories enough to comfort our Physically Challenged here in our village.

Last Sunday February 8,2009, we offered one fatten sheep to give thanks to our Donor, to our devoted Leaders in ADRA Yemen and most especially to Allah that made this dream a reality. Painting blood in the wheels of our vehicle will keep us safe and secured in our entire journey, it is our way of life.

Hais Team “can’t find the words to say thank you for this gift” familiar line, right? It is how Jim Brickman sings his famous song “The Gift”. Indeed it is the same emotions that our team feels, giving thanks and gratitudes to all your contributions to help our Physically Challenge be part, recognized and included in the entire socio-economic sphere of Hais.

“You saved my Heart from being broken apart” another favorite line. Yes! It our sentiments and emotions, whenever, we see our Physically Challenged ill and cannot move, chasing time for life, EMERGENCY, and nothing to carry them or transport them to a nearby Hospital….. It breaks our heart and we feel hopeless.

“Hadeeh” give us new hope, energy to move on, forward and on ward to reach numbers of Physically Challenged in Hais.

“ I’ m thankful everyday for the GIFT”…….. and the music ends………..
Shokran Katir - many thanks -----ADRA HAIS TEAM

"WE ARE THE CHAMPION"

AS the song goes “WE ARE THE CHAMPION” by the Queen, indeed it was the great spirit that we had last 13th of January,2009 as we celebrated the Post- International Day of People with Disability. It was the first time for the Hais Community to have this event; hundreds of Physically Challenge from Hais and Khoka communities attended this celebration. Different personalities such as the Head of Hais and Khoka City Council, Shieks and Imam and people from the Ministry of Social Affair and Labor grace the occasion in support and recognition to our Physically Challenge. Of course this event will not be completed without our dear Country Director who supports the Hais team to make this celebration a success.

Participants were busy preparing for the Motorcade, YES.
YES the Physically Challenge drive to AL-Khoka Hotel which is 30 kilometers away from ADRA Hais Office. They ride in motorbikes Hi-Ace vans and ADRA Cars. Now we have proven to our community that our disability is not a hindrance to participate to any occasion, and YES we did it!

The heart of this occasion is the demonstrations and show cases of the different abilities, self confidence and trust of our Physically Challenge. Our dear Bahalud rendered acappella song, an Indian one and it was fantastic. The sign language class performed a role playing, Zaid from the weaving Class gave testimonies, and two other benificiaries. Actually many want to share their experiences but limited time and we need to hear some words as well from the guest like the Representative from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor named Mr. Ahmad Abdul Hakeed and his partner. Hais City Council and the Imams.

Mr.Ahmad Abdul Hakeed discussed the convention of People with Disability and the numbers of Human Rights of the Physically Challenge. He also gave update regarding the newly agreement between the government of Yemen and the International Convention of People with Disability.
Other personalities like the members and Head of the Hais and Khoka Community gave words of appreciations to the endeavors of ADRA Yemen to reach out and mainstream disability in the said community. The Imam pledges continues prayers and support to the PHY III Programme to the ADRA Hais Team, to our Country Director and most especially to all our Physically Challenged.

This event recognized the most valuable Physically Challenged Woman of Hais. She is Amed Abdullah Oman who succeeded in her livelihood. She finished her Sewing Training Skills in ADRA that gave her entry point to her successful sewing business in the village of Hais.
Then the finished products of our sewing class and weaving class was exhibited, pictures that paints a thousand words were displayed and cached attention of many.

Indeed it was a successful day, everybody were happy, the spirit of solidarity with the Physically Challenged were visible, as the song goes the HEAT IS ON…. I hope the flames that everybody experience on this occasion will keep burning in favor of our PHYSICALLY CHALLENGE!!!!

Belated International Day of People with Disability to all of Us…… yes indeed it is for all of us this means inclusion….)