From Struggle to Recovery: Mearg’s Story of Resilience
Support in Tigray is giving children the tools to learn, heal, and build brighter futures.
Fourteen-year-old Mearg has faced hardships no child should ever experience. His childhood in Western Tigray was abruptly torn apart in 2021 when conflict engulfed the region.
After losing his father, Mearg and his mother made the painful decision to leave their home and seek safety in Shire town. They eventually settled at the Adi-Kentibay IDP site, where life was anything but easy.
“I felt awful. There was no food, and I kept worrying about my friends and siblings,” Mearg recalled. “I slept under a tree surrounded by trash for a week. Every day was filled with boredom and frustration.”
Things began to change when UNICEF, working with Innovative Humanitarian Solutions (IHS) Ethiopia, introduced an Integrated Child Protection and Education programme. The initiative, supported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), offered hope to families like Mearg’s.
Through the programme, Mearg and his mother received multi-purpose cash assistance of 10,500 birr (about USD 70), which helped them cover basic needs. “I bought clothes and shoes for Mearg, and six egg-laying hens,” said his mother, Roman. “Now we sell eggs, which gives us a little extra income to help with daily needs.”
Mearg also received school supplies, allowing him to return to class and start working toward his dream of becoming a doctor. He attended life skills training and received psychosocial support from Birchko, an IHS social worker. These sessions gave him practical knowledge and boosted his confidence and sense of control over his future.
Once shy and withdrawn, Mearg now joins daily activities in the child-friendly space, laughing and playing with children his age. “At first, I was excited when I saw the games and started playing. I didn’t want to leave,” he said. “Later, I began doing theatre and art, which helped me learn and make new friends.” His journey is far from over, but these small steps are helping him regain confidence and a sense of normalcy.
