Rescue Displaced Families in South Sudan

We’re so grateful for you helping displaced families in South Sudan. Without you, many families were simply unsure where their next meal was coming from.

Your gifts helped to change that, recently providing them with emergency rations like sorghum and wheat. But you provided so much more than just a handout. These short-term solutions are absolutely necessary at times but like you, we want long-term change to take place. Your gifts will help make this happen where village by village, you'll be now teaching the poorest communities the necessary skills to make life better for generations to come. 

For the first time in living memory, displaced families in South Sudan are feeling confident. This is because you've equipped them with the tools and skills necessary to plant, grow, and harvest their own food, and this is critical as the seasons change and the rainfall becomes less frequent. Your gifts arrived just in time, and we're so thankful that you've chosen to continue walking with them on this journey.

One elderly woman (pictured), who you recently helped to feed, is typical of the people you're impacting. She had walked with her village friends for two full days, just to reach the food distribution point.

As ton after ton of sorghum was unloaded from the trucks and passed out to waiting families, this grandma stood patiently waiting nearby. Once she received her food she sat down exhausted, relieved that this part of her journey was now over. As she now returns to her community, your gifts will go with her and we'll tell you how in a moment.

First, it's important to know that many people like this grandma have never known peace. They have endured war, violence, and poverty for generations. And while change here is moving slowly, it's encouraging to know that it's your gifts that are making it possible.

In the poorest villages, your gifts will help to introduce drought-tolerant farming techniques so that crops are available throughout the year. You'll be showing small business owners how to better manage their income, leading to an economically healthier community. And you're encouraging families to invest in the growth of their villages by starting schools, improving village health by installing latrines.

As you can see, you're changing lives in South Sudan!   

You are making a big difference for families displaced by war and living in poverty. Not just with emergency food, but by providing children, moms, dads (and grandma's) with lasting sources of hope.

Your support to displaced families in South Sudan is bringing joy, hope and opportunity at a time when they need it most. In the past few months, you have helped to distribute a staggering 133 metric tons of foods to families registered with the World Food Program.

All told, you helped 14,745 children, moms, and dads—so on behalf of each one, thank you! This distribution was urgent as there has been a countrywide rise in food prices and fuel since September. This situation is paralyzing to displaced families and so to ease the burden, they were provided with sorghum, beans, yellow peas, vegetable oil and salt.

Tensions are high in South Sudan right now, with violence and injustice once again rearing its ugly head. Now more than ever, your support is making a difference, and on behalf of the families that you’re building up and blessing, thank you!

Change here doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s important for you to understand what these families have endured just to get to this point. Most have never lived in peace, having survived a brutal civil war and the consequences that come with such a conflict. These circumstances cause development to move slowly, as the communities learn to trust each other and the guidance of those who are helping.

That being said, we want you to be encouraged by the progressive steps that families are making. Thanks to you, every week more and more people are being trained in new agricultural and business training to help their small businesses (usually farmers or small shops) thrive in the tough economic environment. Any increase in income can yield huge benefits for a family in need, often meaning that children can go to school, or more food on the family table. So whether it’s more efficient ways to farm, or selling excess at local markets, your gifts are bringing change to remote South Sudanese communities.

Of course clean water and sanitation remain the highest priorities, and your support continues to roll out health and hygiene training wherever it’s needed. This is critically important to reducing sickness within the villages, teaching families basic hygiene tips such as hand-washing and not allowing animals to drink from a family’s water supply. Its sounds simple, but it makes a big difference to the health of the people.

Staying on water, your gifts have recently help to dig a well! Thanks to you, families can now enjoy clean, fresh and safe drinking water. No more walking for miles to collect water from a dirty hole in the ground, instead the families you’re helping will be happier and healthier.  

To wrap up this report we want to leave you with an encouraging story from a young boy named Akol, whose life has been turned around thanks to your giving.

When we first met Akol, his eyes were empty and were crying out for more. He wasn’t attending school, was unhealthy, and unhappy. But fast forward to today, your gifts have given him new hope, and what a proud young boy he is!  Akol is now in school. He has a uniform, and he’s more confident than ever before.

Friend, you’re bringing hope, healing, and happiness to displaced families in South Sudan, and for that, we thank you!