Four years of a painful and deteriorating situation in Yemen have not only left 80 per cent of the population in need of humanitarian assistance; they have also killed the dreams of many children, destroying their right to play and enjoy their childhood in safe areas.
In Al Ensha’at in Dar Saad district of Aden there used to be a beautiful park that enabled children to play and connect with other children from different backgrounds. In this particular neighbourhood you could run into a Somali refugee, a Yemeni who has had to flee their home, as well as marginalised and host Yemeni families, all in the same area trying to live in harmony. The garden which brought their children together had a profound meaning for all of them all but it was completely destroyed by the conflict.
With generous funding from the Dutch Relief Alliance, CARE implemented a cash for work activity in Al Ensha’at through which the community was able to rehabilitate the park. Children and their parents’ happiness was more than words can describe. Old and young rushed to help in the cash for work activity – the wall was rehabilitated and painted with bright colours, two gates were put in, there was new playground equipment, and water tanks were provided along with new plants. Despite their differences, everyone worked hand in hand for the sake of their neighbourhood and their children.
The below photos illustrate the activities that were done and how the park became once again a safe and joyful place for children and for the whole neighbourhood.
Before the rehabilitation of the park parents were afraid to send their children to play. Suad, one of the mothers in the neighbourhood said, “I can’t send my eight-year-old son to play in the street because I am constantly worried about him and afraid that something will happen.”
