GOAL USA
GOAL USA is the independent US affiliate of GOAL, one of the world’s most trusted, innovative and efficient humanitarian organizations, with a nearly 50-year track record of responding to crisis and building resilience where need is greatest. In the last year, we reached more than 10 million people in 12 countries.
Our purpose is to save lives and empower communities to develop resilience and greater control over their lives and livelihoods. GOAL aims to increase the resilient well-being of the world’s poorest people and focuses on those who are excluded or marginalized, particularly those who are vulnerable due to socio-economic status, gender or age.
We work with the most vulnerable communities to help them respond to and recover from humanitarian crises, and to assist them build transcendent solutions to mitigate poverty and vulnerability.
In Tigray, northern Ethiopia, years of conflict and climate shocks have left many children malnourished and without access to essential nutrition services. GOAL is responding across 16 districts in the region with early detection, therapeutic, and supplementary feeding services, as well as community education. Mothers like Medhin are now better equipped to care for their children.
Malnutrition remains a significant public health concern in Tigray. Years of armed conflict, mass displacement, and environmental challenges have disrupted food supply chains and overwhelmed healthcare systems. Many families face extreme hardship in accessing nutritious food and essential health services. Particularly vulnerable are children under five and breastfeeding and pregnant mothers, who are at high risk of acute malnutrition.
A Mother’s Journey: Medhin’s Story
Medhin Gebremedin, a 35-year-old mother of six from Degua Temben, noticed something was wrong with her youngest son, Abel. Unlike his siblings, Abel appeared frail, often cried, and lacked energy. Concerned, she brought him to the Alasa Health Centre, where he was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.
“They told me why he was behaving the way he did and why he didn’t have the same growth as his siblings. It was not easy for me to know that his condition is caused by malnutrition,” Medhin shared. “I may not have much, but I could have done better to prevent it with the available means I had.”
With the proper support, therapeutic food and continuous follow-up by GOAL, Abel regained his strength and reached a healthy weight within a few weeks. Medhin now shares her experience with other mothers in her community, encouraging them to seek help early.
Strength in Partnership
The success of the intervention in Degua Temben reflects the strength of collaborative action between GOAL staff, the local health center, and broader consortium partners. The combined efforts focus not only on treatment but also on long-term change through education and community engagement.