When we arrived at the camp, it was almost time for iftar. As we walked between the tents, I noticed the people waiting near the meal distribution point. Among them was 13-year-old Hodan. She was looking at us quietly. When our eyes met, a sincere smile appeared on her face. In that moment, we felt once again why this work matters.

As we handed out the iftar packages, it felt like we were helping a family get through another evening with a little more ease. When Hodan took the package in her hands, the joy in her eyes grew. She softly said, “Thank you very much.” It was a small sentence, but it carried a long story.

Hodan had fled the conflict with her mother and two older sisters and taken shelter in this camp. They had lived through difficult days. Even so, her smile stayed with us.

“Knowing that iftar will come every day gives me strength,” she said.

For a child living with uncertainty, that sentence meant a lot. It meant there was at least one thing she could count on.

As we left the tents behind, Hodan’s smile remained in our minds. Each iftar package helps a child end the day with food, comfort, and the feeling that they have not been forgotten.

Somalia, 2026