In drought-hit Wajir County, Kenya, Kamila*, a single mother, struggled to provide for her children after losing her livestock. When her children became severely malnourished, Save the Children stepped in with emergency nutrition support and cash transfers. This helped Kamila buy food, invest in a cow, and join a women’s financial group—empowering her to rebuild her life. Today, her family is healthy, stable, and hopeful for the future.
Kamila in her kitchen in Wajir County, preparing yogurt for sale and for her children. Samfelix Randa / Save the Children
It’s one of those scorching afternoons in Kalkacha West, Wajir County, where the sun seems to burning everything around. Under the shade of a native tree, locals gather with Save the Children officers to discuss transformative projects that have impacted their lives and provide crucial feedback on program implementation. At the heart of this conversation is Kamila Hussein Adan, a 36-year-old mother of two, whose journey embodies resilience and hope.
Kamila arrived in Kalkacha West at her lowest point, newly divorced and left to care for her three-month-old baby and another child on her own. Her only support, a few goats, was wiped out by the devastating drought that ravaged livelihoods across Wajir County.
In this village, we depend on livestock farming,” Kamila shares, her voice tinged with sadness. When the drought hit, my goats died. It felt like watching my savings, my security, my everything disappear.
Desperate, she turned to quarry digging under the scorching sun. The work was gruelling, and with no one to care for her infant, the little money she earned barely sustained them. Her struggle worsened as her youngest son, Nurdin Aden Mohamed, became frail and weak. “He was nearing one year old, so thin and sickly that I thought I was going to lose him,” Kamila recall.
Help arrived when Save the Children visited Kalkacha to assess the drought’s impact. During this outreach, Kamila took her children for checkups. Nurdin was diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition and enrolled in the Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP), where he received life-saving therapeutic foods and supplements. The family was also enrolled in a cash transfer program.
“I can’t thank Save the Children enough. That first payment of Ksh. 5,600 saved my family,” Kamila says. “I used it to buy food for my children. When you have hungry stomachs, you can’t think of anything else.”
The second transfer of Ksh. 13,600 gave Kamila the opportunity to plan for a more sustainable future. Partnering with a friend, she saved diligently, pooling Ksh. 60,000 to purchase a cow with a calf at the Wajir market.
Kamila* fills a jerrycan with fresh milk in preparation for making yoghurt for sale and for her children at her homestead in Wajir. Samfelix Randa / Save the Children
“That cow has been a blessing,” Kamila shares, smiling. She now milks it twice daily, collecting three cups of milk each time. During the dry season, she sells some of the milk, earning up to Ksh. 9,000 a month. This income allows her to provide a nutritious diet for her children, pay school fees, and meet household needs.
After the community engagement, Save the Children Officers visited Kamila at her home, where they witnessed a heartwarming scene. Her son, Nurdin, now four years old, ran toward her with excitement to welcome her back. It was a moment of pure joy for Kamila, seeing her once frail and weak son now strong, healthy, and full of life.
Her story reached its most inspiring point during a follow-up visit when Save the Children’s nutrition officer confirmed Nurdin’s remarkable recovery. His Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) had improved from 10.0 cm to 14.3 cm, and his weight had increased from 12.7 kg to 15.9 kg. Nurdin is thriving, and Kamila’s second child, Nazline Aden Mohamed, who was diagnosed with Moderate Acute Malnutrition, also made a full recovery thanks to the program’s comprehensive support. For Kamila, celebrating Nurdin’s fourth birthday was a milestone that embodied resilience, hope, and the transformative power of timely assistance.
Kamila’s involvement with a women’s group supported by Save the Children further transformed her life. The group of 16 women received training in financial literacy and investment. Each member saves Ksh. 2,000 monthly, enabling them to venture into dairy farming.
“Save the Children brought experts who taught us how to manage money and invest wisely,” Kamila explains. This additional income has further boosted her household’s resilience.
Reflecting on her journey, Kamila says,
“Save the Children didn’t just save us—they gave us a fresh start. My children are healthy and happy, and we now have a sustainable income. They brought hope when there was none.”
Kamila’s story highlights the transformative power of holistic interventions. From emergency cash assistance to health programs and economic empowerment initiatives, Save the Children has helped Kamila not only recover but thrive. Today, her children, Nurdin and Nazline, stand as living proof of recovery, resilience, and the promise of a brighter future.
By Samfelix Randa
Khamila* (back) with her two children, , Nazlin* (left) and Nurdin* (right), enjoying yogurt made by their mother. Also pictured are Save the Children nutrition officers when they visited Hawla* in Wajir to the progress of the children. Samfelix Randa / Save the Children
Khamila* with her two children, her friend Hamisi (with whom she jointly purchased a cow) and her children, Save the Children nutrition officers, and the cow they acquired together are pictured in the background. Samfelix Randa / Save the Children
