When darkness fell over Kabasa camp in Doolow, 42-year-old Samira* often felt trapped inside her shelter. As a widow raising four children on her own, every evening brought a familiar struggle, cooking meals before sunset, rushing children to bed, and silently hoping that no emergencies would arise during the night.

“I used to dread the evenings,” Samira recalls. “If one of my children got sick after dark, I had to wait until morning to find help. Walking outside without light was too risky. The path to the latrine was full of fear.”

In August 2025, Northern Frontier Youth League (NoFYL), supported by UNICEF, distributed solar lanterns to address these gaps. In Bardheere, 185 solar lanterns were distributed while in Doolow, 90 solar lanterns were distributed and in Belet-Xaawo, a total of 95 solar lanterns were distributed. Samira’s household was among those that received the solar lantern. For her, this simple device marked the beginning of a safer and more dignified life in displacement.

With the lantern’s detachable lamps, Samira can now light up her small shelter while keeping one lamp at the entrance for safety. She uses another lamp when walking her youngest son to the latrine at night. The built-in charging port has also reduced her expenses: “Before, I paid every day to charge my phone at a shop. Now I do it at home and save that money for food.”

Perhaps the most significant change is for her children. With reliable light, they can now read and complete their homework after sunset. Her eldest daughter dreams of becoming a teacher and spends evenings studying by the glow of the solar lamp.

“The lantern has changed our nights,” Samira says with a smile. “I feel less afraid, and my children have hope for their future. For us, it is not just light, it is safety, dignity, and opportunity.”