Restoring Dignity, Planting Hope:
Almaz’s Story of Strength
On August 13, 2025, at Kenna for Kids with Disabilities, we celebrate more than just a program milestone. We celebrate courage, hope, and the unbreakable spirit of a mother who refused to give up on her children—no matter the weight of life’s challenges.
Almaz is a mother of six. Two of her children live with disabilities, and for years, they endured not only the physical challenges that come with limited mobility but also the invisible pain of exclusion and stigma. Without wheelchairs, her children’s movement was severely restricted. Without understanding from others, their worth was often overlooked.
But Almaz fought back. She fought against whispered words and judgmental looks—from her own extended family, from her husband’s relatives, and from her community. Every day, she rose with a quiet determination: my children will live with dignity.
In search of better opportunities, she made the heart-wrenching decision to leave her children and migrate to Saudi Arabia, working for six long years. Her sacrifice was driven by love and the hope that she could create a better life for them. When she returned home, she didn’t wait for opportunities to knock — she created them.
With courage and resourcefulness, Almaz rented a small piece of land and built a modest shelter from Shara and Satara — simple local materials. From there, she began selling coffee, milk, cheese, and butter that she purchased from Kore and Kofale markets. But without a refrigerator, much of her produce spoiled before it could be sold, forcing her to bear painful losses she could not afford.
It was at this point that Kenna for Kids became part of her journey. Our first step was to provide her children with wheelchairs, giving them freedom and mobility they had never experienced before. We offered psychosocial support, walking alongside Almaz as she carried both the visible and invisible weight of her responsibilities.
we took another step together
We placed into her hands a refrigerator — a simple tool, yet one that will save her from unnecessary losses and allow her to grow her business. Alongside it, we provided seed capital to expand her small enterprise, so that she can sell more, earn more, and stand on even stronger ground.
But our support does not stop here. We will continue to mentor her, guide her in business training, and ensure her children receive the educational support they deserve.
When Almaz received the refrigerator and seed capital, her face lit up — not just with joy, but with relief, pride, and possibility. Tears welled in her eyes as she said:
“You implanted hope in me. You showed me empathy. I am ready to contribute to others the way you have contributed to me.”
Her words remind us why we do what we do. We are not just giving out equipment or capital — we are planting seeds of hope in lives that will flourish and give back to others.
Almaz’s story is proof that with the right support, a mother’s love can transform not just her family’s future, but her community’s as well.
Kenna for Kids will keep walking this road — until every family of a child with disabilities can stand proud, independent, and thriving.
