Ahmed Abdi - NWO/UN,PSEA NWO Focal
For 20-year-old Maryan, a young mother of two living in Sakawedin Village, Barawe District, raising her children has been a journey filled with challenges and uncertainty. She has struggled to meet her children’s basic needs. One of her most difficult experiences has been watching her young daughter suffer from malnutrition while facing the daily worry of how to provide the nutritious food and care needed for her recovery.
My greatest wish is to see my children healthy and growing well. The support has helped me move from worry to hope, says Maryan, a NSFA beneficiary.
In June 2026, Maryan brought her 2-year-old daughter, Aisha, to Dayah OTP operated by New Ways Organization (NWO) in Barawe. Aisha was suffering from malnutrition and required immediate nutritional care and follow-up. At the OTP, Maryan and her daughter were welcomed by the health and nutrition team and received appropriate services. During the assessment and registration process, the team identified that Aisha met the eligibility criteria for the Nutrition-Sensitive Food Assistance (NSFA) project, implemented by NWO with support from CRS. Following registration and community mobilization, Maryan was enrolled to receive three months of NSFA cash assistance, provided through an 80% and 20% payment modality. The assistance was designed to help vulnerable households access locally available nutritious foods, particularly for children receiving or recovering from malnutrition treatment.
When I first arrived at Dayah OTP with my daughter, I was overwhelmed with worry and uncertainty. I did not know how I would cope with her condition or find the means to provide the nutritious food she desperately needed. All I wished for was to see my daughter recover, regain her strength, and become healthy again, Maryan recalls.
For Maryan, the assistance meant far more than financial support. It brought relief, reassurance, and renewed hope at a time when she was struggling to provide nutritious food for her children, particularly her daughter, who was receiving treatment for malnutrition. In September 2026, Maryan received her first installment of US$56, representing 80% of the planned cash assistance which is $70. She used the money to purchase nutritious food for her children, helping her family meet immediate dietary needs while supporting her daughter’s nutritional recovery.
The support came when I was deeply worried about my daughter. The US$56 helped me buy nutritious food for my children. For the first time in a while, I felt relieved knowing I could provide them with better meals. As a mother, seeing your child eat well and become healthier gives you hope, Maryan added.
Beyond meeting immediate food needs, the assistance helped Maryan recognize the importance of proper nutrition in supporting her daughter’s treatment and recovery. Through the project’s nutrition awareness activities, she gained a better understanding of how nutritious foods, together with appropriate medical care, contribute to children’s health and well-being.
Before receiving this support, I struggled every day to provide the food my children needed. Now I understand better how important nutritious food is for my daughter’s recovery. I am truly grateful to everyone who made this assistance possible, says Maryan.
For Maryan, the experience has been about much more than receiving cash. It has given her an opportunity to care for her children with greater confidence, ease some of the daily pressures on her family, and look toward the future with renewed optimism. “My greatest wish is to see my daughter healthy and strong. When I notice her improving, it brings me happiness and peace of mind. This support has encouraged me and given me hope that I can continue providing the care and nutrition my children need,” she expresses.Maryan’s story highlights the importance of linking nutrition-sensitive cash assistance with nutrition treatment, awareness, and community-based health services. By helping vulnerable households access nutritious foods, such interventions can ease immediate financial pressures and strengthen families’ ability to support children undergoing treatment and recovery from malnutrition.
Through the Nutrition-Sensitive Food Assistance (NSFA) Project, supported by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and implemented by New Ways Organization (NWO) in Barawe, vulnerable families like Maryan’s are receiving much-needed assistance to improve household food access, strengthen nutrition awareness, and support children’s health and recovery.
My greatest wish is to see my children healthy and growing well. This support has helped me move from worry to hope, Maryan said reflecting the support she has received from New Ways Organization
For Maryan, who once faced the daily uncertainty of how to put nutritious food on the table, this assistance has brought something that cannot be measured in dollars alone: the reassurance that she can better care for her children and the hope of seeing them grow healthy and strong.
