“Socotra, a remote Yemeni island known for its unique biodiversity, is home to inspiring stories of resilience.”

On the far reaches of the enchanting island of Socotra—where the blue of the sea meets the green of the mountains—hope persists, despite the hardships of daily life.

The island is one of the world’s most stunning natural treasures. Yet, behind its breathtaking scenery lie unseen challenges. Chief among them is agriculture—a lifeline for the island’s people—struggling under the weight of tough conditions.

The soil is rocky and difficult to work with. Modern farming equipment is virtually nonexistent. Technical and financial support for farmers is extremely limited. Every handful of soil turned, every seed planted, represents the result of exhausting labor and relentless perseverance.

In the midst of this struggle stands Adeeb Abdullah Hadeeb, a resilient farmer from the Sheltin area of Socotra. A man who never gave in to despair, but instead chose to sow his dreams into the very earth—no matter how stubborn or barren it seemed.

Since 1985, Adeeb has pursued farming with nothing but his bare hands, basic tools, and a deep faith that the land rewards those who are patient and true to it. He had no modern tractors, no technical support—only traditional hand tools, strong willpower, and an unshakable belief in the promise of cultivation.

Together with his small family, he labored under the scorching sun, plowing stone-filled fields. They shared sweat and strain, watered their hopes with patience, and dreamed of a harvest worthy of the years they had invested.

In addition to growing vegetables and fruits, Adeeb also dedicates special care to preserving rare plants native to the island through a small private nursery.

The work was exhausting, and the yields modest—but Adeeb saw in every green seedling a promise for a better future. He firmly believed that fertile land only yields its blessings to those who love it and endure with it.

Then came the moment of transformation.

As part of a farmer support project implemented by Altwasul for Human Development, with generous funding from the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) in Kuwait, Adeeb received a modern hand tractor—one of 100 distributed to farmers across Socotra.

This machine was more than just a tool. It was a beacon of hope.

As soon as he began using it, Adeeb felt the reward of his long years of struggle. The hand tractor made preparing the soil significantly easier, saving him and his family hours of backbreaking work and opening up new possibilities for expanding and improving their farm.

With a hopeful smile, Adeeb shared:

"We will develop our farm. We will plant, plow, and harvest the fruits of our labor, God willing. This tractor is not just a machine—it is the start of a new life and a brighter future for me and my family."

In this barren land, a story of hope has taken root. When agricultural support reaches the right hands, it transforms from a project into a real success story—and from a simple tool into a seed for a better tomorrow.

Abdo Ahmed Yahya...

An elderly man and his wife Fatima, endured a harsh and challenging life for many years. They lived in a worn-out tent, facing the forces of nature - wind, cold, and rain.

His dangerous environment drove him away from his family and neighbors,  forcing him to live in a camp made of palm fronds on a farm where he joined other IDPs people, devoid of basic necessities such as healthcare services and clean water. Abdou endured these harsh conditions for four long years.

However, his journey took a turn for the better. Thanks to the grace of God and the efforts of Altwasul for Human Development, funded by International Islamic Charity Organization in Kuwait, a residential village was built. The village comprises 50 houses, each consisting of two rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a courtyard equipped with solar power. Additionally, a mosque, a health center, and a primary school were constructed, along with a solar-powered well for clean water. Each beneficiary was also provided with a shelter kit that included mattresses, blankets, and kitchen utensils.

Abdo and his wife now have a home they can call their own a sanctuary that provides warmth, comfort, and, most importantly, safety. This new house has been a lifeline for the elderly couple, profoundly transforming their lives for the better. For Abdo and his wife, it is much more than just a shelter; it stands as a symbol of hope and a constant reminder of God’s mercy. It is a blessing they will cherish for the rest of their lives, forever grateful for the compassion and generosity of the kind-hearted people of Kuwait, whose support turned their dream of a safe home into a reality. This home shields them from the harsh sun, strong winds, chilly nights, and even dangerous creatures like snakes and other harmful animals. Abdou Ahmed is one of 50 families who benefited from the Al-Ta'akhai Village project, implemented by Alwasul for Human Development. The project has brought joy and relief to these families, giving them a renewed sense of hope and stability.

Abdo and his wife say: The joy in our hearts was indescribable the day we received our home. Thank you sincerely from the bottom of our hearts

Mohammed Ebrahim Afaash: From the Depths of Suffering to the Light of Hope

in one of the remote areas in Bir Ahmad - Aden Governorate - Yemen, Mohammed Ebrahim Afaash lives with his family, which consists of five members. They live in a humble house made of straw and palm fronds. This simple house reflects the harsh reality of a family struggling to survive amidst difficult financial conditions. Mohammed's father works in collecting empty bottles from the waste to stay a living, while the family faces huge challenges in meeting their basic needs.

Mohammed, the youngest child in the family, was born in these harsh conditions. Since his birth, he has not been in good health. His weak body reflects the severe effects of malnutrition he has suffered as a result of his mother's malnutrition during pregnancy and afterwards, as a result of the family's difficult financial circumstances. Mohammed suffered from different illnesses constant fever, general weakness, and continuous crying, as if his frail body was crying out for help. This mentally and physically exhausted family was unable to provide adequate healthcare or sufficient food for their sick child.

Months passed, and Mohammed grew weaker, his mother felt helpless every time she looked into his eyes. Pain and sorrow overshadowed the family. Each time Mohammed fell ill, they wondered, Will this little child survive? It seemed like no way for him, and hope was fading day by day.

In a moment filled with despair, they received news about Ali Health Center supported by Altwasul for Human Development Foundation, which provides free care for children suffering from malnutrition. This was the only light in the dark tunnel that the family was living in. Without hesitation, Mohammed's mother took him to the center, where the specialized clinic for malnutrition treatment welcomed them with indescribable warmth and support.

During the next six months, Mohammed underwent an intensive treatment program. He was provided with balanced therapeutic nutrition and received regular checkups under the supervision of a specialized medical team. These checkups and medical care were a crucial part of his health recovery process. Mohammed's mother visited the center regularly, observing how her son was changing slowly but steadily. Day by day, Mohammed began to recover his strength, and a smile started to appear on his little face.

Today, Mohammed is completely different. His health has changed from severe weakness to vitality and happiness. The child who was on the brink of death is now able to play, laugh, and grow like any other normal child. His family can't believe the recovery that has taken place, and they are grateful for every moment they received support and help.

Mohammed's story is not just a tale of a child who survived malnutrition; it is a live testimony to the power of humanitarian work and the deep impact it can have on people's lives. The support provided by Altwasul for Human Development Foundation was not only to save Mohammed's life but also to restore hope to a family filled with despair. Mohammed is among thousands of children who have been treated through the malnutrition treatment program implemented by Altwasul for Human Development in six medical centers in five Yemeni Governorates.

Ahmed Saleh Ali

A humble farmer from Lahj Governorate, passionate about the land that he owns with his young children, despite the harshness of the land and the limited capabilities

Ahmed is determined to maximize the potential of his farm and reap its bounty; Ahmed faces an uphill battle in revitalizing his land. But he cannot cultivate the entire plot due to limited resources for plowing, he relies on manual labor and occasional rents plowing to till the soil. However, all these measures incur significant expenses that reduce his profit. Ahmed Sayed, "I used to plow the land with a hoe, a task that took days of arduous labor. Plowing is just one aspect of a farmer's work. It also involves planting seeds, watering them regularly, monitoring their growth, and harvesting the crops."

Many farmers have turned away from farming due to a lack of resources for agriculture, poor yields that do not cover their needs, and rising prices for fuel and labor. All of these factors leading many to seek other professions

Altwasul for human development conducted a field survey of farmers in Lahj Governorate to implement the project of distributing hand tillers to farmers. Farmer Ahmed as a Beneficiary of the Economic Empowerment Project for Poor Farming Families, which falls under the framework of the economic empowerment project for poor farming families. As part of this initiative, a total of 232 hand tillers were distributed across Lahj, Taizz, and Hodeida Governorates

The project aims to revitalize agricultural production opportunities for farmers and cultivate previously uncultivated lands due to resource limitations. Farmer Ahmed Saied "These tillers have been like life giving rain for my land. Thanks to these tillers, I can now plow an acre of land in an hour, a task that used to take me several hours. I dispensed to rely on hired labor, which was a significant expense. My joy with these tillers is indescribable. Now I am producing several times what I did before, cultivating tomatoes, potatoes, beans, peppers, and other varieties that I couldn't grow previously. Thanks God, my income has increased, and I have been able to cultivate additional land that I couldn't before. The land is a treasure for me and my children, and I will never let it go to waste"

Ahmed received a manual tiller among 232 farmers who were accepted into the project. We visited Ahmed after short period from implemented project and found a significant improvement in Ahmed’s monthly income

Amal Abdulaziz Alshbi is one of the many inspiring stories that prove that children can overcome adversity and never lose hope. Despite the difficult circumstances .she went through, Amal never stopped believing in the power of education and was determined to continue her studies no matter the cost

Amal, a young girl who was displaced with her mother and siblings to the Al-Jaw Al-Nasim camp for the displaced in Marib Governorate. They lost her father a long time ago. She has been struggling with the harshness of life and displacement with her peers in one of the dilapidated camps, and her family barely finds their daily sustenance.

When Amal was displaced, she knew that she had to find a way to continue her education. She was determined to make sure that the disruption to her schooling would not hold her to back and she could still succeed. There was no school in the camp to teach the children, but despite this, the children continued to study under the open air in the heat of the sun and the dust. Amal was one of those heroic children who did not let the circumstances of displacement stand in the way of their education. Amal's dream was to have a school in the camp to complete education with her peers.

After three years, Amal's dream came true when Altwasul for Human Development intervened to establish Idris 1 Primary School, consisting of 12 classrooms equipped with solar energy, with administrative offices, a library, and a playground for children, funded by Al Rahma international society in Kuwait state. She was able to continue her studies and she is now in the sixth grade and has first place among her classmates.

Amal says: "I always dreamed of greatness, and I became the first in my education."

Amal is a true testament to the power of resilience and determination. Her inspiring story shows that she did not let the conflict around her to prevent her from achieving her dreams. Her story reminds us that no matter of circumstances, it is possible to overcome adversity and achieve success.

Water is the essential element for life, has become a scarce and precious commodity in the city of Aden over the past eight years. During the ongoing conflict in Yemen, several factors have contributed to this crisis: the lack of regular maintenance of the city's water project, the influx of displaced people, a growing population, and the prevalence of informal housing. This has led to a significant drop in water levels in the city, leaving a large portion of the residents without access to water and causing it to be completely absent in many Aden neighborhoods. Consequently, residents have been forced to rely on purchasing water from water tanks transported on trucks, known as "water wagons." The price of a 5,000-liter water tank has reached around 12,000 Yemeni rials, which is approximately equivalent to 10 US dollars.

water consumption varies among households depending on their usage rate, which is determined by the size and number of family members. This method, however, is only available to affluent and well-off residents, especially considering that reports indicate that more than two-thirds of Yemenis living in extreme poverty cannot afford the exorbitant cost of purchasing water. This undoubtedly has a negative impact on every aspect of their lives

Najat Mohammad Salem is one of the citizens who living in the Crater District in the Al-Eidaroos neighborhood. Najat and her children are struggling to survive with the increasing water scarcity that threatens their entire residential neighborhood. The situation has caused great losses on Najat and her family every day. They must make the difficult decision to ration using water they have and sacrifice their needs in order to survive. She has no alternative to buy water from the local market, which is expensive and often unreliable, and her financial circumstances do not allow her to buy water continuously , so she is forced to give up some of her other needs in order to provide water.

Najat says more than five years, has not a drop of water  entered her house from the city’s general project water, and all of her reliance on purchasing water from the local market.

.This is the situation of Najat and many of the residents of Aden Governorate who pray to God every day to change their situation for the better

Altwasul for Human Development implemented the drilling of ten replacement artesian wells with a 610-kilowatt solar power station and an electrical cable network to ensure the continuity of water flow in the Nasser well field, that feeds the water of Aden Governorate. This project supplies the city of Aden daily with 17,280,000 liters and covers 30% of the project’s water needs. It was funded by the Kuwait Relief Society and in coordination with the local authority and the local administration of water and sanitation.

Najat says, "We do not hear the sound of water trucks as much in our neighborhood because water has reached most of the residents in the area." In truth, we had lost hope for an improvement in the water situation, as the country's conditions are deteriorating every day. Thank God, today we have become free to focus on our other work instead of being preoccupied with searching for water. Al-Eidaroos neighborhood is one of the many neighborhoods in Aden city that is now receiving water after a five-year interruption."

It is heartbreaking to witness a child  less than three old, his skin clinging to his bones, ravaged by illness and exhaustion, his strength depleted, his family unable to afford treatment, cause displaced, and displaced people in camps just find what they eat.

Ahmed Abdo Qawia is our hero, he grew up in a poor family in AL-Kawkha district, Hodeidah Governorate, which suffered from war. His family consists of seven males and two females, the youngest one is Ahmed  and the sole breadwinner for them is his father Abdo, who works as a fishing worker with an irregular and very limited income that is not enough to support his family.

Ahmed's father says "I am here with my family in a very bad situation. I am trying to work to earn a daily living for me and my family, but unfortunately I can only find a little from my work"

Abdo did not choose the option of living in the camps of his own , but rather the circumstances led him to do so, and he became a victim of his own living crisis. The disease almost caused the child Ahmed to die, had it not been for the kindness of God, and his life was saved by our volunteer teams that wander the camps for the displaced. I met Ahmed and his family, and the child was examined and transferred to the Qataba Center for Malnutrition, which Supervises AL-Twasul for human development, he was examined by the specialist doctor at the center, After that, he was included in the program for treating cases of malnutrition for children, and he was periodically supplied with therapeutic food and his health condition was monitored periodically to ensure that he wasn't have any diseases that might accompany him during the follow up period through a pediatrician, and conduct all laboratory tests and free dispensing of medicines from the health center. In addition to distributing monthly food baskets to Ahmed’s family and conducting awareness sessions for mothers on correct health practices to protect children from malnutrition.

After five months of treatment and continuous medical follow up, Ahmed's body responded and he began to show signs of improvement and activity in a way similar to that of a child his age. He laughed and smiled and was able to stand on his feet and his body returned to its normal state like any other child. These developments filled the heart of his family with happiness.

Despite the tragedies that the displaced are experiencing, while the Yemeni conflict continues and the economy collapses.

This has exposed more than 66% of families in Yemen to an urgent need for humanitarian aid. We work at the AL-Twasul Foundation for Human Development to make a difference, even if it is small, to raise the level of hope among families and individuals who are in need of assistance by standing beside them and supporting them.