Madina lost her house and built a business

Water, too much of it, uninvited and out of control, flooded her house. Madina, her husband and her children spent the next ten days sleeping under a plastic sheet. They built a small, temporary hut, and in time, they rebuilt a house.

But then water, the right kind, a safe water source in her town, changed Madina’s life in more ways than one.

“My life was hard before – I used to go long distances to other villages just to get water,” says Madina.

The newly available and easily accessible water supply gave Madina an idea. With water she could make coffee. She borrowed supplies from a local shop owner and built a small hut not too far from her house.

At 45 years old, Madina is now the proud owner of her own coffee shop business.

In September 2020, heavy rains flooded communities across West Kordofan, Sudan. Almost one hundred people lost their lives, and hundreds of thousands were displaced. Families lost their homes, farmers lost their crops, and schools, medical clinics and latrines were washed away.

Islamic Relief Canada provided emergency relief to Madina, and many others in her community. Families who had lost their homes received plastic sheets, mosquito nets, and hygiene kits.

Islamic Relief Canada also rebuilt latrines, rehabilitated damaged water sources and installed more water sources in Madina’s village to provide safe drinking water and prevent the spread of water-borne diseases.

Now Madina wakes up early every morning, goes for prayer and wakes her children. She heads straight to her coffee shop, where she makes coffee and tea on hot charcoal from 7am to 4pm, and then returns home to take care of her children.

Madina and her husband have nine children. Because her husband is sick and unable to work, Madina must support the family.

“I started my business on my own. Now I can provide for my children,” says Madina. “Thank you very much to the Islamic Relief.”

“I would also like to thank the donors. I wish upon them happiness.”