Aaden*, a ten-year-old boy in the third grade, lives with his family in a rural village in Ethiopia’s Somali region. He is the fourth of seven children in a household that depends on small-scale farming and livestock for survival. In recent years, recurrent droughts have severely impacted their livelihood, decimating their animals and threatening their food security. With support from Save the Children’s Anticipatory Action initiative, funded by Save the Children Italy, the family received improved animal feed, farming tools, and technical assistance. These resources enabled them to grow nutrient-rich fodder, improving their livestock’s health and offering a more stable and hopeful future.
Aaden*’s mother, Fawzia*, a resilient 43-year-old, plays a vital role in sustaining the family. As a member of a community fodder producers’ group supported by the same initiative, she received Sudan grass seedlings, farm tools, and a water-pumping generator shared among group members. On her half-hectare plot, she cultivated improved fodder that significantly boosted the health and productivity of their animals. The resulting increase in milk yields has not only nourished her children but also provided surplus to sell, generating extra income and strengthening the family’s resilience against climate shocks.
Aaden*’s story in his own words (Quotes):
My name is Aaden*, I am ten-year-old and live in a small village with my parents and siblings here in Somali region. I am in grade three at a school near my home, and I enjoy learning new things every day. English and Somali are my favourite subjects, and I enjoy playing with my friends at break time. But life has been hard for my family and me.
I have six siblings, three older and three younger than me, and my parents are farmers who survive on our animals and the crops from a small plot of land. Our goats, sheep, cows and camels are everything to us. They give us milk, which is our main source of food, but when it doesn’t rain, all of this is not the same. The grass dries up, our animals weaken, and they don’t give us enough milk. Sometimes, we have nothing but plain bread or porridge to eat, and it is never enough to fill our stomachs or to make us strong.
I remember how hard it was when drought took away all our animals. My parents work hard and always say, “When the land suffers, we all suffer, but when rain comes back, so does our hope.”
Nowadays, my parents grow animal feed that helps our livestock to produce enough milk. My hope is to become healthy and strong so that I can help my family. I also want to become a teacher one day. I would love to teach other children like me in my community because I believe that school leads to a better life.
Milk with injera (local flat bread) is my favourite food. My mom prepares it for us every day. Sometimes, she adds sesame oil to the milk or tea that we pour on the injera. She also makes delicious maize porridge, which I like to eat. When I eat milk and Injera, I am strong and ready for the school day.
Aden*, 10,sits next to his beloved goat, which he adores and enjoys playing with every day. He cherishes the fresh milk from the family’s cow, camel, and goat, which his mother provides him every morning and evening. When asked about his favorite food, Aden* enthusiastically replied, “Milk with injera (a flatbread made from maize) is my first choice, but I also love eating pasta and macaroni with cow or camel milk.” Aden* also shared his thoughts about school, saying, “English and Somali are my two favorite subjects in class. I used to struggle with understanding math lessons, but I am determined to improve in the future.” He added with a smile, “I love going to school every day. There, I get to play with my friends and learn new things from my teachers.” When talking about his goats, his face lit up. “I love spending time with the small goats. They are so cute. It makes me happy when my mother gives me enough milk. I especially enjoy drinking milk with maize porridge—it’s delicious!” Aden* joy for life, his love for his family’s livestock, and his determination to excel in school reflect the resilience and hope of a young boy striving for a brighter future. Seifu Asseged / Save the Children
Additional interview with Fawzia* (Aaden’s mother):
“The improved fodder has transformed our lives.” Fawzia says, smiling, “ My animals are strong and produce more milk than they did before. My children now have adequate food , and I have a surplus income to support our family.” Fawzia*’s story remains a powerful testimony to the impact of sustainable agriculture and community-based initiatives.
What is Save the Children doing to help Aaden*’s family and others like them?
Save the Children’s Anticipatory Action initiative, funded by Save the Children Italy, has introduced a climate-sensitive fodder production program to support communities vulnerable to climate shocks in the Somali Regional State. This innovative initiative promotes climate-smart livestock production technologies, including animal feed production, by providing fodder seeds to communities in the riverine areas of the region.
The program empowers these communities to produce and store fodder during periods of abundance, which can then be used or sold during times of high demand. This approach not only ensures a sustainable feed supply for their livestock—the cornerstone of their livelihoods—but also generates income to sustain their fodder production efforts. To date, 240 households have been organized into six fodder-producing groups across six villages in two districts of the Somali region.
These families have been supplied with improved fodder seedlings, farm tools, water pump generators for irrigation, and 600-meter-long water hoses, enabling them to produce sufficient fodder for their animals while selling surplus seeds and grass to neighbouring areas. This has become a vital source of income to support their families.
In addition to providing seedlings, farm tools, and agricultural equipment, Save the Children has trained development agents and agricultural experts on advanced fodder production techniques. We have also assisted communities in preparing farmland for fodder cultivation through clearing of the land and ploughing using tractor machine, ensuring optimal conditions for growth.
The participating households have achieved remarkable success, cultivating Sudan grass—one of the most productive and nutrient-rich fodder crops—on 120 hectares of land. This has benefited over 240 households, approximately 14,600 people. The produce is shared among group members to feed their livestock, while surplus seeds are harvested for expanding their own plantations and selling to others. This initiative has not only enhanced food security for their animals but also created income-generating opportunities, strengthening the community’s resilience to climate shocks.
Looking ahead, Save the Children is collaborating closely with local livestock and agricultural offices, as well as the community, to ensure the initiative’s long-term sustainability. Efforts are underway to support the groups in obtaining legal accreditation from the district and regional cooperatives development agency. This will pave the way for the establishment of formal fodder-producing cooperatives, providing the groups with the recognition and legal certification needed to strengthen their operations and ensure continued success. Through this collaborative approach, the program is empowering communities to build resilience, adapt to climate challenges, and secure a sustainable future.
