Building Dignity Through Service and Self-Reliance.

When Fartun arrived in Dadaab refugee camp in late 2023, she carried more than just a few belongings from Somalia; she carried the heavy responsibility of raising eight children alone, including two under the age of five. Fleeing drought and insecurity, her journey to safety was long and uncertain. The crowded camp offered some relief but also brought new challenges. As a single mother, she faced sleepless nights worrying about food, clothing, and security for her children in an unfamiliar environment. “When I first arrived, I did not know how I would manage,” she recalls. “I worried every day about how to provide for my children.”
Like many new arrivals, Fartun’s family was vulnerable to gaps in healthcare, particularly immunization. In the camp, newly arrived children often miss out on routine vaccinations due to competing priorities like UNHCR registration, lack of awareness, and the overwhelming adjustments of settling in.
Her turning point came when she was recruited as a Care Group Mother (CGM) under the Core Group Partners Project (CGPP) in partnership with Vision Corps Initiative (VCI). After receiving formal training, Fartun began taking on a new role in her community—identifying newly arrived families with young children, referring them to nearby health facilities for immunization, and following up to ensure no child was left behind. She works in three blocks in section D, Ifo2 camp. Each block harbors approximately 50-100 families.
This new responsibility gave Fartun more than a task it gave her a sense of purpose. She moved from being a worried mother to a confident advocate for health. With compassion and consistency, she became a trusted bridge between vulnerable families and lifesaving health services. “Every child deserves protection from preventable diseases,” she often tells mothers.
But Fartun’s journey did not stop at serving others—she also began building a foundation of self-reliance for her own family. With the modest stipend she received as a CGM, she carefully saved and reinvested in her grocery shop. Step by step, the business grew into a reliable source of income. Now, she is able to put food on the table consistently, pay for school supplies, and ensure her children are cared for with dignity.
Fartun’s work went beyond referrals. She began using her small grocery shop—her only source of livelihood—as an informal hub for conversations about health. Mothers who came to buy essentials would often leave with more than groceries; they left with knowledge about the importance of immunization and the confidence to protect their children.
Her dedication and sincerity soon earned her respect across the camp. Today, she is recognized not just as a shopkeeper or mother, but as a health champion, someone mothers turn to when they have doubts or fears about vaccines. This new role improved her self-esteem and gave her a renewed sense of dignity.
One of her proudest achievements has been fencing her compound with “Mathenge” branches. In a camp where families live in close quarters, this small step created a sense of privacy and security for her children. “I believe I am now someone who can do something productive for myself,” she says with pride.
Her transformation demonstrates the ripple effect of empowerment. By giving mothers like Fartun opportunities to contribute, the project did more than improve immunization coverage—it created resilience. Children in her blocks are now more likely to be immunized on time, her family enjoys greater stability, and the community sees her as a role model.
Fartun’s story is a powerful reminder that mothers are trusted with responsibility and given even modest resources, they not only change their own lives but also uplift those around them. From arriving in Dadaab as a vulnerable mother uncertain about the future, Fartun has become both a community health advocate and a small business owner.
Her journey reflects the broader vision of the Core Group Partners Project and Vision Corps Initiative: that empowering women with skills, resources, and trust leads to healthier children, stronger families, and more resilient communities.