Stories
June 17, 2026 • 2 min read
At 29, Rukiya Ibrahim had built a quiet, stable life a husband, a home, a routine that felt permanent. Then, in a matter of days, conflict stripped everything away. She lost her husband to violence, her home to destruction, and her sense of safety to the chaos of displacement. With nowhere else to turn, she joined thousands of others in an IDP camp in Debre Birhan.
Life in the camp was a different kind of suffering. Crowded shelters left no room for grief, let alone privacy. In the weeks and months that followed, Rukiya withdrew into herself bearing the weight of loss in silence.
“I couldn’t accept what had happened to me. Everything fell apart in a very short time. I was displaced from my home and comfort and started to live in a crowded shelter where there was no space for privacy, no room to breathe.”
A Chance Visit That Changed Everything
During a routine shelter visit, a GOAL protection team met Rukiya and recognised the signs of deep emotional distress. Rather than walking past, they stayed. They connected her with medical care, accompanied her to follow-up appointments, and most importantly made her feel seen.
Slowly, with consistent support and the gentle encouragement of community elders, Rukiya began to emerge from her isolation. She found the courage to start again and eventually, to remarry.
A Small Fund, a Big Idea
With support from a modest and flexible fund provided through St Giles Church in the UK, intended to support projects with meaningful and lasting impact, the team identified a critical gap: menstrual hygiene products were financially out of reach for many displaced women.
“We wanted to use the fund for something truly impactful. We identified a shortage of hygiene pads for women due to their cost so we designed garment training so that she could produce reusable pads at an affordable price for displaced women, and biodegradable bags to help limit plastic use in the IDP community.” Girma Gebremariam, Senior Protection Officer, GOAL Ethiopia.
Rukiya was selected for the training not just as a beneficiary, but as a solution. She enrolled, committed fully, and completed the programme with distinction. She received a sewing machine and start-up materials to begin production immediately.
Building a Business, Restoring a Life
Today, Rukiya runs a small but growing garment business from within the IDP community. She produces reusable menstrual pads and biodegradable bags, goods that are affordable, sustainable, and desperately needed by the women around her.
Her income steadily grew. With her savings, she purchased a second sewing machine and trained her husband in dressmaking. They now work side by side, thread by thread, rebuilding a shared future.
“I don’t have words to express my gratitude for all the kindness and support I received from GOAL and its team. They changed my life for the better.” Rukiya Ibrahim.
