Story type: Story

Be inspired by these ten stories of strength and hope in the face of an unprecedented year .

After their jobs disappeared due to coronavirus, savings group president Aïchatou Cheitou helped focus the group on mask and soap production and started a mutual aid program to ensure families in her community had enough to eat.

For many mothers in Palestine, the lock down was not a pleasant experience. Overburdened with endless house chores, child care, psychological and emotional pressure and home schooling most women did not find time to do anything for themselves. Bayan Farraj a married mother of three, from Ramallah was not so different. However, she had other responsibilities that motivated her to create time for herself and her small business “Allure by Bayan”, a natural beauty products business.

17-year-old Zokiya shares her experiences of fleeing violence in Myanmar and confronting challenges like accessibility and discrimination at her new home in a refugee camp in Bangladesh.

Nabila, a 24-year-old Syrian refugee, has been living in Amman with her family of six after fleeing Damascus in 2012. She is an active member of CARE’s Community Committees.

“I am just praying that the medical scientist gets the vaccines because the disease has come to stay with us and some of us may not survive in our homes if this continues. Now I’m experiencing the fear of my husband and the fear of the disease at the same time.” Gloria, Ghana.