Ibrahim: A Story of Hope

The neighbors tried to look after him, but their own desperate situation, having lost everything in the disaster, made it impossible for them to keep him.

That's when SOS Children's Villages Morocco stepped in, providing Ibrahim with more than just shelter—a new family.

Ibrahim was entrusted to Nawal, an experienced SOS Children’s Villages caregiver who was already caring for five children. In her home, Ibrahim found a place where he is secure, protected, and loved. Nawal fondly recalls the day Ibrahim arrived: "We were all very happy and moved to welcome him because we knew his tragic story. The children were thrilled to have a baby in the house and all wanted to hold him."

"Children left alone amid the debris"

At least 100,000 children were impacted by the powerful earthquake that struck Morocco on September 8, 2023. More than 2,900 people were killed and 5,500 injured.

“Everything was in ruins, roads were cut off, and children were left alone amid the debris,” said Samya ElMousti, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages in Morocco.

Many children lost parents in the quake and needed support. SOS Children's Villages Morocco placed 120 children with temporary foster families, providing continuous monitoring to ensure their well-being. For children, like Ibrahim, who needed long-term care, they have been placed at the SOS Children's Village Ait Ourir. In addition to Ibrahim, three babies were taken into the care of the children’s village, as well as a 15-year-old.

Ibrahim adjust to life in the children’s village

For children who lose parental care, the best option is to be reunited with a family member, when in their best interest. Ibrahim, too, had extended family, including an aunt and uncle. Before SOS Children's Villages in Morocco took charge of Ibrahim, this was an option, but now his extended family is happy to know that he is being supported for a better future and can visit him in the village.

Initially, Ibrahim, weakened by malnutrition, silently observed his new surroundings in the children’s village with wide, curious eyes. But thanks to Nawal's attentive care and the affection of his new siblings, Ibrahim gradually regained his strength.

Today, Ibrahim is a different child: he has gained weight, his health has significantly improved, and he is thriving, surrounded by the love of his new family. His siblings adore him, and he plays with them, his laughter now echoing throughout the SOS Children's Village in Aït Ourir.

Besides caring for children who lost parental care, SOS Children’s Villages in Morocco provided humanitarian assistance – food, water, clothes, medical care - to more than 36,000 people in the aftermath of the quake. Over the course of year, schools were rebuilt and modular classrooms set up so children could continue their education. Mobile teams provided both non-formal education and digital learning classes, as well as mental health support to address the overall well-being of thousands of children.

*Name changed to protect privacy