Social Protection to Empower a Mother striving for her daughters' Education
Kebili - Tunisia
Meet Hadahom: A Strong Mother Striving for her Daughters' Education
In the town of Kébili, nestled in southern Tunisia, Hadahom bravely shoulders the responsibility of raising her two young girls, Soujoud (7) and Arwa (8). A few years ago, Hadahom faced a daunting challenge – she couldn't afford to send her daughters to school. Her husband, apprehensive about the distance between their home and the educational institution, strongly opposed their education. Determined to secure a brighter future for her children, Hadahom made the courageous decision to leave her husband and return to her hometown, Kébili. Her primary motivation was to ensure that her daughters received an education, laying a strong foundation for their social and overall well-being. “The idea of sending my daughters to school is enough to keep me going.” said Hadahom.
Overcoming Financial Hurdles: Hadahom's Journey as a Single Mother
Hadahom, a resilient single mother, finds herself grappling with financial challenges, making it difficult for her to provide sufficient support for her two young children. She candidly expresses her predicament, stating, "I am a skilled dressmaker, equipped with a sewing machine. Unfortunately, I lack the necessary funds to acquire fabrics and other essential supplies to kickstart my own business.”
AMEN Social Programme, a glimmer of hope for Hadahom and her family.
In the pursuit of providing for her family, Hadahom dedicates her time to collecting fodder and dates from nearby fields. However, the income generated from a day's toil in gathering and selling these resources barely covers the essential needs and educational requirements of her daughters. Thankfully, the AMEN Social Programme has become a source of immense relief for Hadahom and her family. Through this programme, Hadahom received a valuable one-time support of 100 TND per child to assist with back-to-school expenses. Additionally, she benefits from a monthly child benefit of 30 TND per child. Grateful for this support, Hadahom expresses her heartfelt appreciation, stating, "I am truly grateful to the AMEN Social programme for their invaluable assistance in meeting my daughters' needs and helping me afford their school supplies."
Expanding Social Support: AMEN Social Programme's Impact on Children in Kébili Governorate
Mohammad, a social worker at the Ministry of Social Affairs’ local unit for social promotion in Souk Lahad in Kébili, notes: “We support around 2,900 children between the ages of 6 and 18 years old and 509 between 0 to 5 years old in Kébili Governorate, all of whom live in poor households.”
From the beginning of 2023, all school aged children in AMEN Social receive the child benefit of 30 TND per month per child under the “AMEN Social” programme launched by the Ministry of Social Affairs in partnership with UNICEF and funded by German and American international cooperation. Hadahom’s daughters Soujoud and Arwa are among the beneficiaries. “The girls were entitled to a one-off back-to-school allowance, totaling 100 TND for each of them, as the UNICEF-supported programme enabled a doubling of the Governments’ 50 TND one-off back to school support. In addition, in 2022 Hadahom retro-actively received 6 months of child benefit of 30 TND per child per month.” The 30 TND child benefit is made up out of 10 TND per month provided by the Government to children aged 6-18 years old registered in the Programme National d'Aide aux Familles Nécessiteuses (PNAFN) under AMEN Social, with a top-up through the UNICEF programme of 20 TND per month, in order to reach the recommended amount for the child benefit of 30 TND per child per month.
When asked about her aspirations, 8-year-old Arwa confidently declares, "I want to become a doctor." Beyond her own ambitions, she also expresses a heartfelt desire to support her mother and extend her gratitude for prioritizing her daughters' well-being above all else.
