Mothers working toward brighter futures for the next generation

What does it mean to build a future when the present feels unstable? From Ukraine to Ethiopia, women who are facing uncertainty are also holding out a steady hand guiding their children forward. For these mothers, hope is not abstract—it is something they work toward every day— turning fragile circumstances into stabilizing foundations and building brighter futures for the next generation.

Cultivating for tomorrow

“We’re a hardworking family. If we weren’t hardworking, we probably wouldn’t do farming,” said Alyona, describing how her family makes a living in Novohryhorivka, Ukraine. In March 2022, at the outset of the full-scale war, Alyona, her husband, and two young children fled their home as their village came under intense shelling. They left with almost nothing, returning months later to find their home and farm devastated. Machinery had been burned or riddled with shrapnel; fuel tanks destroyed, and fields scarred by explosions and mines.

“Our hearts longed for home,” said Alyona. The farming business had been passed down from Alyona’s father, who founded the farm more than three decades ago with 22.5 hectares of land. Since then, Alyona and her husband had purchased more land around it, growing wheat, barley, sunflower, and alfalfa—cultivating a stable future for their family until the war erupted around them. Though it was risky to return to Novohryhorivka, they had hope and determination that they could rebuild despite not having income.

With grant support from Mercy Corps, Alyona and her husband purchased what they knew would help restart the farm: a tractor and attachments like a seeder, bailing press, and tiller. With the new equipment, they sowed crops, repaired fields, and delivered thousands of straw bales to nearby villages during a severe drought. Alyona’s family farm is once again active and has become a hub, providing vital services, like baling and sowing neighboring farms, to surrounding communities struggling with feed shortages and damaged infrastructure. The impact of this kind of tailored support extends beyond one family. It cascades, helping revive agriculture across multiple villages.

Mercy Corps has connected more than 2,100 subsistence farmers and over 260 small farming businesses with grants and training. Additionally, the program has included legal and financial consultations for more than 4,000 farmers. With the support to overcome these barriers, farmers in Ukraine have restarted their livelihoods and increased their income, paving the way to future recovery.

Back on Alyona’s farm, they’re hoping to install an irrigation system soon. “We didn’t give up after the fighting in 2023, and we won’t give up now. We’re doing everything we can to get the best possible yield.”

“It’s a family business. I hope it will be passed on to our children. It won’t end here; it will go on,” said Alyona. “We’d really hope they’ll continue the work we’re doing now. We’re laying a foundation for them, just like my father once did. He took land, started a farm, and built a base so the work could continue. We’re doing the same now so that they already have a starting point.”

Bridging work and childcare

Bethelem has many dreams for her three-year-old daughter, Mulu*. She hopes to give Mulu access to a better education than she had, saving now so she can afford to enroll her in a private kindergarten in a couple years. Then she plans on working for herself by starting her own business, and supporting her family on her own terms. In the meantime, while she builds the stability for her future plans, she’s a quality inspector at a garment factory in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

For the first years after Mulu was born, Bethelem and her husband struggled with balancing childcare and work. They often faced the difficult choice of going to work and earning income or caring for Mulu at home, especially when she was sick. “At many garment factories, you’re not allowed to leave work to care for your child.”

The turning point came two years ago, when Mulu enrolled at a daycare center near Bethelem’s workplace. Affordable childcare is a major barrier for women seeking work in the surrounding industrial park. Through a multifaceted program that blends employment support with practical solutions, Mercy Corps helps run a center that serves 110 children—making it possible for mothers to take on and keep jobs.

In addition to providing accessible childcare, the program has partnered with digital platforms that connect employers with job seekers and have registered 82,000 users—resulting in more than 12,400 job placements so far.

“It’s been amazing. I’m able to work with peace of mind now,” said Bethelem. “Since joining the daycare, she’s started talking more and engaging with other children. Her appetite improved, too. I’ve seen real progress in her health, communication, and development.”

When mothers are equipped with the tools, care, and opportunities they need, entire families can move forward with greater stability and hope. Investing in them is an investment in what comes next. “I want her to grow up and become a doctor, to serve the country,” said Bethelem.

*Name has been changed