A message of hope: How one SMS changed Fadumo’s life in Jariiban
A modest cash transfer gave her more than money, it gave her control, dignity, and a home.
In Jariiban, Puntland, life can be tough, especially for mothers like Fadumo. But sometimes, even the smallest sound can bring the biggest relief. When Fadumo’s phone beeps, it is not just a message, it is the fulfillment of hope. It means food on the table, a visit to the clinic, and the means to care for her children. For her, that beep is more than a sound, it is a lifeline.
“I got a message on my phone, it said the money had arrived,” Fadumo says, her eyes lighting up. “In that moment, I felt a wave of relief. I knew I could buy food for my children that night. I didn’t have to worry about them going to bed hungry.”
Fadumo is one of more than 27,000 pregnant and lactating women across Somalia benefiting from the Child-Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP) programme, funded by the Government of Germany through KfW and implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in partnership with UNICEF and the Somali Cash Consortium.
Every month, Fadumo receives US$20 through mobile money. It may seem like a small amount, but for her, it has brought about big changes. With it, she can buy healthy food for her children, take them to the clinic when they are sick, and even register her baby’s birth, something she never imagined possible.
But the impact has gone beyond the basics. With careful savings from the cash transfer and the support of her husband, a construction worker, Fadumo recently completed the building of a modest one-bedroom house. “We put our efforts together,” she says. “He did the construction himself, and I contributed part of the money I received to buy some of the building materials. It’s the first time I feel we truly have a home of our own.”
Before the programme, life was a daily struggle. Food was often scarce, and healthcare felt like a distant dream. But today, Fadumo stands stronger. “Now I can plan better. I know when the money is coming, and I make sure to use it wisely,” she says. “My child is healthy, registered, and I no longer fear that I won’t be able to feed my family.”
The CSSP goes beyond cash, it empowers mothers like Fadumo who are also learning about nutrition, hygiene, and how to care for themselves and their children through regular social and behaviour change sessions. This knowledge, combined with the monthly cash support, is helping families build healthier lives, make informed choices, and take steps toward a more stable and dignified future.
“This small amount gave me back my dignity,” Fadumo says softly. “I no longer feel helpless or dependent. I feel like a mother who can feed her children, protect them, and give them a better start in life. I even helped build our first real home. That makes me proud, not just as a mother, but as a woman who made something possible with her own hands.”
Her story is a powerful reminder that even the smallest lifeline can spark lasting change, a step toward hope, and self-reliance. And for Fadumo, it all began with a single SMS.
