From UNDP in Yemen


A 22 years old, Mohammed Hamood Alshouthmi, is the breadwinner of four siblings and his parents. Like tens of thousands of Yemenis, the ongoing conflict has deprived him of his job, becoming unable to pay for rent and support his family.

“Life has been dark for us since the beginning of the conflict. My family and I stopped working, except for one day or two a month. It became more and more difficult to feed my family with time. Obtaining a job was a dream!” Alshouthmi explains how the conflict affected him and his family since 2015.

Alshouthmi was one of 250 vulnerable youth who participated in a UNDP cash-for-work scheme in Sana’a between September and December 2015. This emergency scheme is funded by the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid, to address the immediate needs of conflict-affected communities and improve their ability to cope.

“I was extremely happy to participate in the project. However, I felt scared about what will happen after sixty days of work with UNDP. At that moment, I decided to think about obtaining a sustainable source of income.”

After enrolling in the UNDP cash-for-work, Alshouthmi was able to save some money and, with a small loan, to buy motorcycle to rebuild his livelihood.


“I divided my income into three parts: the first to spend on my family, the second as personal expenses and the third for savings. I was able to save YER 70,000. I decided to buy a motorcycle to work and have a stable income so I do not go back to my previous state,” Alshouthmi says. “With a small loan, I managed to buy a motorcycle and started working”.

He summarized, “Working as a motorcyclist has enabled me to earn enough money to pay off the loan, support my family and retain my dignity. Many thanks for all the hands that have contributed into making that change in my life.”  

Source: http://goo.gl/Yux0jK