Restoring Hope to Children Affected by Floods

Project Report for GlobalGiving

Project Title: Restoring Hope to Children Affected by Floods
Organization: South Sudan Grassroots Initiative for Development (SSGID)
Report Period: Jan – June 2025
Submitted to: GlobalGiving
Date: 03/06/2025

Project Overview

Heavy floods in Lakes State, particularly in Rumbek East County, have devastated communities, displacing families, destroying homes, and disrupting essential services such as education, health, and WASH. In response to this crisis, SSGID launched the "Restoring Hope to Children Affected by Floods" project, aiming to provide immediate relief and restore dignity to vulnerable children and their families.

Thanks to your generous support through GlobalGiving, SSGID has so far supported 200 beneficiaries, mainly children and their caretakers, with essential relief packages. These include:

• Food items (maize flour, beans, and cooking oil)
• Sleeping mats and blankets
• Cooking utensils
• Mosquito nets

These items were carefully selected to meet urgent household needs, reduce health risks, and improve the overall well-being of flood-affected children.

Impact Story: Deborah Ayen

Among the 200 supported individuals is Deborah Ayen, a 45-year-old woman from Mathiang Payam in Rumbek East County. She lives with her four children. Their home was completely submerged by the floods, forcing them to seek refuge in a nearby school compound with no bedding, no food, and no protection from mosquitoes.

Deborah shared her experience with us:

“Before the help came, we were sleeping on bare ground with only our clothes to cover us. My children would cry at night because we had nothing to eat, and the mosquitoes would bite us all night. I used to dream of sleeping in a real bed again or even having food before going to bed. When the people from SSGID brought the blankets, mosquito nets, food, and cooking pots, it felt like a miracle. That was the first time in weeks that I saw my children smile.”

She concluded with hope in her eyes:

“Now I can sleep without fear, and I feel happy when my children go to school because they are not hungry.”  I am appealing for more support from well-wishers to continue to support other vulnerable women and children. 

NOTE: Deborah Ayen consented to her name being used and published in the report

Achievements to Date

• 200 vulnerable children and families reached
• Distribution of food rations covering up to 2 weeks per household
• 200 mosquito nets distributed to prevent malaria
• 200 sets of cooking utensils provided for daily food preparation
• 200 blankets and sleeping mats offered for warmth and comfort

Challenges

• Rising food prices and logistical constraints posed budgetary pressure
• Need still outpaces current resources, as many more women and children remain in need of similar support

Next Steps

SSGID remains committed to supporting affected children and their families. Our future plans include:

• Mobilizing more resources to reach an additional 300 families in the coming months
• Conducting psychosocial support sessions for children affected by trauma
• Supporting school re-entry and access to education materials for displaced learners

Gratitude

We extend our heartfelt thanks to GlobalGiving and all our donors. Your compassion and generosity have given children like Deborah a renewed sense of hope and safety during an incredibly difficult time. Together, we are making a difference  one child at a time.