As a cab driver in Gaza, Amjad has very modest means and carries a heavy weight on his shoulders; he has four children to provide for.  

Amjad drives from 5 am until evening but still only pulls in $10 a day, and it’s not enough to feed his family. Sometimes, he sends his children to eat dinner at a relative’s house, and his son anxiously awaits Eid Adha for a good meal. “We receive a lot of meat from neighbors and relatives so we can eat meat for some days,” says Amjad’s 10-year-old son.  

To buy food and clothes, Amjad and his wife Zaina, supplement their income by running a small sheep farm. But during the 2021 Israeli bombardment, both of their sheep were killed. “My son was screaming and crying. He asked me: how can I play with the sheep now, and how will we get milk and cheese for breakfast? I had no answer for his questions,” he recalls. 

Everything changed when Amjad enrolled in UPA’s Small Business Development Program. The project helped the family get back on their feet by providing two pregnant sheep and supplies to repair their farm. Amjad also benefitted from business training and veterinarian coaching about how to maximize safety and profitability. 

“The training I received was instrumental in rebuilding our business. Although I have experience in sheep farming, the veterinary visits added to my knowledge and skills in animal husbandry and disease management. My wife and I learned how to market the products, packaging the cheese and butter we produce and selling our products to local shops and neighbors,” says Amjad.  

Now that the family’s farm is back up and running, Amjad has plans for expansion. Some of his new income will go to sending his children back to school. Then, he’ll use extra cash to buy more sheep to grow the business long-term. No matter what the circumstances are, Amjad will never give up on building a better life for his children. 

This Eid al Adha, your gift can empower Palestinians like Amjad to grow sustainable sources of food and income so their families can eat nutritious food all year, not just on holidays.