Djeneba's Fight for Survival and the Gift of Hope

With the armed conflict and insecurity in the town of Tominian, entire families are moving to cities to escape the worst. This was the case of Djeneba, a mother of five, and her husband, who fled their village in the Djenné district and stayed in Kansènè for fear of reprisals from armed men.

Few weeks later, they decided to move to the Tominian displacement site. Arriving with some rations, she and her husband continued to multiply their income-generating activities. Djeneba did laundry for wealthy families, and her husband did day labor (woodcutting, masonry, and other tasks) to provide for their children, whose priority was food. 

Sadly, two months later, Djeneba lost her husband following a short illness. The family fell into complete despair, not knowing who to rely on. Left alone with her children, she struggled to provide for their needs. After some weeks, she was selected as a beneficiary of the Seasonal Assistance to Vulnerable People (ASV) project implemented by World Vision with funding from the World Food Programme. This brought a sigh of relief to Djeneba and her children. This support helped the family cope with the total disarray that lay ahead. The emotion could be seen on her and her family's face after this timely donation.

 “I was very happy to receive a 50 kg bag of rice, 5 liters of oil, and a carton of pasta. This greatly eased the family burdens weighing on my shoulders. Here on the site, I had no one to ask for help. My husband's brothers had no means. World Vision's food gave us the opportunity to eat our fill for a month. I am very grateful to World Vision for its support,” said Djeneba.