Help Mercy Corps Turn Crisis Into Opportunity

Ayesha’s husband died 10 years ago. As a widow and mother of nine, Ayesha struggled to provide for her family. “After my husband’s death I didn’t see any hope for the future because I was alone and carrying the responsibility of the children,” she told us.

Ayesha, her son and eight daughters live in a two-room home in the highlands of southwestern Yemen. When we met Ayesha, poverty was rampant in her village, and job opportunities were few.

She earned a small amount by selling firewood she collected during twice-daily trips to the valley, but it was not enough to feed her family. Five of Ayesha’s children had to drop out of school; they scavenged for firewood, peppers — anything they could sell for a small income. Still, at times, the family went hungry.

Families in Crisis: Their story is all too common. More than 40% of Yemen’s population is food insecure — that’s 10.5 million people who don’t have enough food.

Political instability, endemic poverty and high unemployment are just a few reasons Yemen is one of the hungriest countries in the world. Continued tensions are putting the population on the brink of an emergency situation.

Help Families Thrive: When you donate to Mercy Corps you make it possible to deliver emergency food and supplies, and help families and communities become more resilient to crises long-term.

In Yemen, compassionate supporters like you are helping people like Ayesha fight poverty. “Now that Mercy Corps has helped me I don’t feel that feeling of insecurity,” she explained. “I try to work, but if there is a gap, Mercy Corps helps.” You made this happen by providing food, clean water, education, infrastructure, jobs and training.  

You also help youth develop job skills or attend school. “The most important thing to me is education,” Naserah, (Ayesha's daughter) told us. Because of you, Ayesha's children have returned to school.   

But so many families are still hungry. And so many kids are deprived of the opportunity to learn, which threatens the future of these regions. We have the chance to help them. Will you donate today to help another family in need?  

When you donate $30, you'll receive a free thank you gift: a beautiful, handcrafted frame (frames are limited!). Here are examples of how your gift can make a difference for families:

• $30 can help a family of four in Yemen purchase lifesaving food items.
• $30 can provide workbooks for a class of 12 children in Lebanon.  
• $30 can provide shelter to protect Syrian refugees in Iraq from the winter cold and summer heat.

Change is not possible without you. Thank you for being a partner in this life-changing work. 

PS: If you would like to receive a free frame with your gift, click this link. Or, if you visit the main project page, be sure to click "Add to Cart" under the "Gifts for Good" section to get your frame. 

Links:

• Join us. Learn about our work in Yemen and around the world.
• Donate to change a life today.