Emergency Aid Worldwide

Susan, 49, stands behind her market 
stall at Rhino Camp in Uganda, 
proudly displaying the food she sells. 
After being forced to flee neighboring 
South Sudan, the mother of eight children 
has managed to build a new life for herself.

Escape from South Sudan
Since 2013, violent unrest, political 
instability, and climate-related changes 
have led to massive displacement in South 
Sudan. Around two million people are 
currently displaced within their own country. 
In addition, nearly 2.3 million people have 
left South Sudan – around half of whom have 
fled to Uganda. In 2016, Susan and her 
children also set out for the neighboring 
country.

Saving Together
The turning point came a few years later 
when Susan joined a community there which 
saves money together. Each member pays a 
monthly contribution into a shared fund. And 
if someone needs a loan, it is paid out from 
the community fund. Of course, the loan must 
be repaid.

Staff from the alliance organization of 
Aktion Deutschland Hilft, Malteser 
International,  who establish these savings 
groups train the members to start their own 
businesses with the necessary background 
knowledge. The three-day intensive training 
offered focuses on business management, sales, 
accounting, and profit calculation. These are the 
basic tools that finally paved the way for Susan 
to regain her independence after her escape and 
the subsequent years of uncertainty.

Her own market stall
After the training and with a loan in her pocket, 
Susan opened her own stall, where she now 
successfully sells vegetables and fish every day. 
"Before the training, I had no business knowledge. 
Now I know how to keep accounts and manage profits, 
and I can pay my children's school fees," she says 
proudly.

But Susan's dreams aren't limited to just making 
ends meet: she wants to expand her business further. 
With the prospect of returning to South Sudan 
anytime soon slim, she's focused on building a 
stable future for her family in Uganda.

Help That Lasts
Susan is one of over 100 refugees who have 
participated in one of our alliance organization's 
training programs since 2022. At a time when global 
funding for refugee support is declining, initiatives 
like this are important. They offer people the 
opportunity to decide for themselves what they want 
and give them the tools to bring about lasting change.

Thank you for your donation!