"I thought I had lost everything because of the floods"

Mariam is a 13-year-old girl. A year ago, her life was turned upside down when her village was completely destroyed by floods. Unknowingly, thanks to the UKAID-supported 'My Home' programme, this climate disaster was to turn into a great opportunity for Mariam and lead her on her way to school. "My family lost everything because of the floods," Mariam explains. "Overnight our house and my father's fields were destroyed."

We had no shelter and nothing to eat, so we had to flee. I was very worried about my mother because she was pregnant with my little sister and the journey was long and difficult." The Afar region in northern Ethiopia is severely affected by climate change. Violent floods during the rainy season follow unprecedented droughts, leaving families completely destitute and on their own.

"When we arrived in Alelo, members of the NGO Edukans welcomed us, listened to us, reassured us and enrolled us in the village school," Mariam continues. "I received supplies and was able to go to school for the first time in my life! Before the floods, I used to stay at home all day and help my mother with the household chores. It's a bit strange to think that without the floods I might never have had the chance to go to school."

The 'Bete - My Home' programme is implemented in the Afar region of northern Ethiopia to help internally displaced people affected by conflict and weather events. Community caseworkers, with the help of local authorities, take care of the children from their arrival in the host community until they return to school.

"I love going to school! Every day I meet my two best friends Moumina and Alima. I love learning and I have a lot of ambition for the future. In the future, I want to become a doctor because in our village there is no health centre and when I become a doctor I will be able to treat and help my community," Mariam concludes.

Thanks to UKAID's financial support, thousands of children like Mariam are being given a new start in life. Every day, the children receive the attention they need to regain their confidence and gradually return to school. In total, the 'Bete - My Home' programme aims to bring more than 8,500 out-of-school children (IDP, refugee and host community) in the Afar region back to school.