Today, Bena Charity for Human Development (BCFHD) received the United Nations Resident Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Mr. Julien Harneis, accompanied by Mr. Son Tøst, during a field visit to the organization’s community center in Taiz. The visit, funded by the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF), aimed to learn about the services and programs offered by the center and to review the key humanitarian and development activities implemented by BCFHD in the governorate.
The delegation was welcomed by the organization’s leadership, headed by Dr. Abdulkarim Shamsan, Chairman of BCFHD, along with several program officials. The BCFHD team delivered a brief presentation on the organization’s areas of work and its interventions in agricultural livelihoods, education, protection, food security, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and psychosocial support, in addition to an overview of the targeted groups, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), host community members, marginalized groups, and other vulnerable populations.
The BCFHD Community Center serves as a specialized space providing an integrated package of community services designed to improve the quality of life for individuals and families, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups. The center offers child case management through thorough needs assessments, risk level identification, and the provision of appropriate protection and support services. It also provides gender-based violence (GBV) case management for affected women and girls, through comprehensive assessments and integrated intervention plans that include psychosocial support, emergency assistance for critical cases, legal counseling, life skills and vocational training, and economic empowerment programs, in addition to referrals to specialized service providers.
The center further provides individual and family psychosocial support services, including family counseling, psychological consultations, trauma support, and the development of coping and adaptation skills. Group psychosocial support sessions are also conducted to enhance social interaction, build support networks among beneficiaries, and help them effectively manage psychological stress. Additionally, the center implements life-skills and livelihood training programs aimed at empowering individuals—particularly women and girls—both economically and socially, covering areas such as sewing and embroidery, hairdressing, household management, handicrafts, incense and perfume making, and the International Computer Driving License (ICDL).
For children, the center offers a specialized child-friendly psychosocial support unit featuring various activity corners, including: a free-play corner for emotional expression and social skill development; an art and coloring corner to reduce stress and encourage creativity; a storytelling and reading corner to support learning and communication; and a group activity corner to enhance cooperation and teamwork. These facilities make the center a safe space that promotes children’s mental well-being and nurtures their emotional and social skills. The center also organizes awareness sessions for women on their basic rights, GBV, and life skills, as well as sessions for adolescent girls focused on preventing extortion and violence, boosting self-confidence, and fostering positive social participation.
During the tour, Mr. Julien and the accompanying delegation observed the daily activities provided for children, women, and youth, and listened to explanations from the center’s team regarding work mechanisms, case referrals, and coordination with local and humanitarian partners.
The Resident Representative also held a meeting with the organization’s leadership and technical staff to discuss ways to further develop humanitarian interventions in Taiz, strengthen the partnership between BCFHD and the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF), and enhance the response to the needs of the most vulnerable groups. The meeting also addressed field challenges and opportunities to improve the quality of services delivered to beneficiaries.
Mr. Julien commended the efforts of Bena Charity for Human Development (BCFHD) in managing and operating the community center and acknowledged its vital role in supporting affected communities in Taiz, praising the organization’s adherence to humanitarian standards and principles of accountability to affected people.
For its part, the organization’s leadership expressed its gratitude and appreciation to the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF) for its continued trust and support, affirming its commitment to strengthening the partnership and expanding the impact of programs and projects that contribute to enhancing resilience and improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups in the governorate.
