Two years ago, Tigist Haile would wake up each morning with one question consuming her thoughts: "How will I feed my children today?" A single mother of three, she had lost her small retail business during the economic downturn and found herself with no income and no hope.
"I remember the shame of bringing my children to the feeding program for the first time," Tigist recalls, her voice thick with emotion. "I felt like I had failed as a mother. But the volunteers at Babul Keyer USA didn't make me feel ashamed. They welcomed us with warmth and dignity."
For months, Tigist and her children relied on the daily meals from Babul Keyer USA's feeding program. Then one day, she noticed a flyer about vocational training at the Kality center.
"I had always loved sewing but never had the chance to learn properly," she explains. "I applied for the tailoring program, and when I was accepted, I felt like a door had opened."
For six months, Tigist learned pattern-making, cutting, and sewing. She mastered the industrial machines and discovered a natural talent for design. Upon graduation, Babul Keyer USA provided her with a sewing machine and seed money to start her own business.
"Today, I run a small tailoring shop from my home," Tigist beams. "I make traditional dresses for neighbors, repair clothes, and even take orders for school uniforms. I earn enough to feed my children without assistance, and I've even hired another woman from the feeding program to help me."
Tigist's children are back in school, and she has opened a savings account – one of the 2,400 beneficiaries supported by Islamic Relief through Babul Keyer USA.
"I no longer wake up wondering how to feed my children," she says. "I wake up planning how to grow my business. Babul Keyer USA didn't just give me food – they gave me my dignity back."
