Mothers in Displacement

“Supporting mothers is not secondary work. It is the work that rebuilds fractured communities. Supporting mothers is foundational infrastructure for healthier children, stronger families, and more resilient communities.”

Founder Vision

Mothers in displacement are among the most overlooked groups in humanitarian response, despite carrying some of the greatest responsibility in crisis. Their needs, knowledge, and leadership are often absent from the systems designed to support them. At its core, this is about building practical pathways between healthcare professionals, NGOs, and grassroots organisations so that care for displaced mothers and young children is not fragmented, delayed, or lost—but accessible through reliable networks of care and support.

At its heart, this work is driven by a simple intention: that mothers facing displacement and crisis are not alone in how they are considered, supported, and cared for. It seeks to ensure their needs are actively held within the systems and structures designed to serve them.

Why this work exists

My commitment to this work began in Shatila Refugee Camp in Lebanon, where I worked with Syrian mothers displaced by conflict through a trauma-informed theatre project with Laban Theatre Company. The work centred on mothers’ lived experiences of displacement—their challenges, fears, and daily realities of survival. Through this, it became clear to me that displaced mothers are among the most invisible and under-served groups within humanitarian systems. My focus on maternal displacement also became personal. Witnessing my own mother navigate maternal trauma in the context of poverty, and later becoming a mother myself, deepened my understanding of how profoundly maternal well-being shapes children, families, and communities. In the struggle of displaced mothers and their children, I heard echoes of my own mother’s experience. It affected me deeply and moved me toward action. 

Why Mothers in Displacement Matter

When maternal caregivers are unsupported in displacement settings, the consequences are inter-generational:

  • Maternal trauma deepens

  • Child development is disrupted

  • Family stability weakens

  • Social cohesion declines

  • Recovery becomes harder

  • Long-term peacebuilding capacity is reduced

Supporting mothers is not secondary work. It is the work that rebuilds fractured communities. Supporting mothers is foundational infrastructure for healthier children, stronger families, and more resilient communities.

What is the route forward?

01
Support networks across migration routes

Building connected systems of care so that mothers and young children are not lost between borders, organisations, or stages of displacement. This focuses on continuity of support across movement and context.

02
Multi-agency coordination

Strengthening collaboration between healthcare providers, NGOs, and grassroots organisations to ensure information, responsibility, and care are shared rather than fragmented or duplicated.

03
Voice and Representation

Ensuring that mothers in displacement are not only seen within systems, but meaningfully heard and reflected in how decisions, services, and communications are shaped.

If this work resonates, get in touch to explore how we can work together.