Beyond survival: How economic empowerment is helping orphans’ families build brighter futures in Ethiopia

In May, Claire Bedwell-Thomas and Osob Osman, 2 members of Islamic Relief Worldwide’s Global MEAL team, travelled to Ethiopia to visit some recent and ongoing projects in different communities supporting widowed mothers to boost their household income.

When a parent dies, the impact on a child and their remaining family extends far beyond immediate grief. For many widowed mothers and grandparents caring for orphaned children, the loss of a breadwinner can push their already vulnerable families deeper into poverty.

In Ethiopia’s Somali Region, Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme (OSP) provides vital support that helps families cover essentials such as food, clothing and education. During our recent visit to families in Jigjiga, however, we saw something equally important: how combining sponsorship with Women’s Economic Empowerment initiatives is helping caregivers move from simply surviving towards building long-term security and opportunity.

A foundation for children’s futures

Across all the families we visited, one message came through clearly. Sponsorship is helping children stay in school and giving families breathing space during incredibly difficult circumstances. Many caregivers told us that education is their highest priority, and we saw first-hand how families are investing in their children’s learning despite significant economic challenges.

Caregivers also spoke honestly about the realities of rising living costs. While sponsorship support is essential, many families still need additional opportunities to strengthen their incomes and improve their household resilience. This is where the Women’s Economic Empowerment project is making a difference.

Turning support into long-term assets

One of the most striking examples we encountered was Nimco, a widow raising 7 children.

Following the death of her husband, Nimco and her family faced unimaginable hardship. There were times when they went without food, and she struggled to find ways to provide for her children. When the family joined the sponsorship programme, the support provided a lifeline, but Nimco also had a vision for the future.

Recognising that inflation would eventually erode the value of cash savings, she began investing in physical assets instead. By carefully combining sponsorship money, donor gifts, income from livelihood activities and assistance from the empowerment project, she gradually accumulated building materials and constructed a new house.

And Nimco’s plans do not stop there. Once renovations to the original home are complete, she hopes to rent out the newer property, creating a sustainable source of income that will continue supporting her family in years to come.

Nimco’s story demonstrates what becomes possible when immediate support is combined with opportunities for economic empowerment. As she explained, sponsorship helps families survive, while livelihood support creates opportunities to transform their circumstances.

More than income

Although increased income is important, the women we met spoke just as passionately about something less tangible: confidence.

Many participants described how they had previously operated businesses in isolation, with little access to guidance, training or peer support. Through self-help groups and cooperatives established by the project, they have developed networks that allow them to share experiences, discuss challenges and learn from one another.

One participant summarised the experience beautifully, “Before I was just using one brain. Now there are 20 brains.”

The groups meet regularly to save together, review progress, discuss their businesses and hold one another accountable. Women spoke about gaining knowledge in areas such as financial management, leadership, business planning and decision-making. They also highlighted the friendships and solidarity that have developed through the groups.

What began as project activities have evolved into support networks where women encourage one another, solve problems together and celebrate each other’s successes.

Building a pathway out of poverty

During a focus group discussion with one women’s cooperative, participants repeatedly returned to the idea that the project had expanded their horizons. They described receiving extensive training and mentorship and spoke proudly about applying new business skills in their daily lives. Many could confidently explain how they calculate profits, deduct expenses and manage savings, demonstrating that the knowledge gained is already translating into practice.

Perhaps the most powerful reflection came when we asked how important the livelihood component was alongside orphan sponsorship.

The women did not simply talk about money. Instead, they spoke about knowledge, confidence and opportunity, explaining, “Our brains are widened.”

Looking ahead

The stories we heard in Ethiopia remind us that poverty cannot be addressed through a single intervention alone.

Orphan sponsorship provides a crucial foundation, helping children remain in school and ensuring families can meet their immediate needs. Economic empowerment builds on that foundation by equipping caregivers with the skills, confidence, networks and opportunities needed to create lasting change.

Together, these approaches are helping families do more than cope with hardship. They are enabling widows, grandparents and other caregivers to build businesses, create assets, increase their resilience and invest in brighter futures for their children

As we left Jigjiga, one thing was clear: these women are not waiting for change to happen. Given the right support, they are creating it themselves.

Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme supports tens of thousands of children worldwide. Learn more here.