Joyful ululations filled the entire place as we entered the Craft Lab in Socotra Governorate.
I felt surprised and amazed in that moment, but soon profound happiness gripped me as I saw their eyes brimming with emotion. One of them began reciting a poem in a resonant voice. Although I couldn't grasp the meaning of the verses in the Soqotri language, their emotions seemed more profound than words could ever convey.

At that moment, I reflected on all the exhaustion I had felt before arriving here, which now seemed insignificant. That feeling of exhaustion entirely dissipated when a woman named Aisha approached me from a distance and warmly embraced me. Her face beamed with joy, and her embrace felt different, and unexpected, and filled me with a sense of gratitude. After she embraced me, many other beneficiaries approached me, each expressing themselves in their unique way, unimpeded by language barriers. One of them mentioned how this project had fundamentally transformed her life and that of many others like her.

It was then that I truly understood how all the moments of effort I had endured before were worth it and more. The sincere feelings and joyful emotions they showed motivated and spurred me to continue contributing to the field of development and reconstruction.

Dr. Hala AlSaleh
Representative of the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) during her journey to Socotra