A Mother's Resilient Hope: Shugofa’s Journey with CRL Food Assistance

A Mother's Resilient Hope: Shugofa’s Journey with CRL Food Assistance

Vulnerable females receiving social grants, food assistance through the CRL project. 

"I am the only one left to care for my children," says Shugofa, her voice steady yet filled with the weight of a mother's struggle. "It’s been hard, so hard. Sometimes, I wonder how we will make it through the day."

Shugofa, a 44-year-old widow from Kandaghi village in Kajaki district, Helmand, has faced unimaginable pain and hardship. She lost both her husband and one of her daughters during the war leaving her alone to raise her two young daughters and teenage son.

Life in Kajaki district is already incredibly challenging. The community depends on agriculture, but climate change, erratic rains, floods, and soil nutrient depletion have made it even harder for families to survive. "There’s no work here, no jobs for us," says Shugofa. "We barely get by, and sometimes, there’s no food, no clothes, and no money even for medicine when my children fall sick."

Despite these overwhelming challenges, Shugofa is a fierce and determined mother. Every day, she works tirelessly to support her family, doing whatever work she can find within the community to ensure they have enough to survive. However, her situation was becoming increasingly dire As a harsh winter approached,  she was on the verge of losing hope. That was until the CRLP team arrived with a much-needed lifeline.

Through the home-to-home assessment for the Social Grants component of CRLP, Shugofa’s family was identified as one of those in desperate need of assistance. The team verified her situation, and soon after, Shugofa and her children received a food package.

“This food package has brought us so much relief,” Shugofa shares with a sigh of gratitude. “For the first time in months, I don’t have to worry about where our next meal will come from. This assistance has given me and my children a moment of peace, knowing we will survive for a few months.”

The impact of the food assistance has been immense. For Shugofa, food assistance means that, for some time, she does not have to worry about where the next meal will come from, which offers her a sense of relief. This allows her to focus on other pressing needs for her family, like saving some of the money she earns for clothing or covering heating costs during the colder months. While this support is temporary, it lightens the burden and gives her a chance to plan for her family’s well-being beyond just survival. 

“Without this support, I don’t know what we would have done. I’m so grateful to CHA and UNOPS for thinking of us in these difficult times,” she adds. 

In Afghanistan, Social Grants (SGs) serve as a crucial safety net for families facing conflict, economic instability, and displacement, particularly for those unable to work, such as people with disabilities, widows, and female-headed households. Thousands of families, especially in rural areas, have received food assistance, alleviating their immediate struggles. So far, the CRLP project has provided social grants to 74,930 vulnerable female-headed households, offering essential relief during these challenging times. 

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