Trócaire empowers families to recover and rebuild in communities in South Sudan

As Trócaire’s three-year UK Aid Match project comes to a close, families in South Sudan have renewed resilience after years of conflict and climate-related challenges.

With funds raised through their 2021 Lent appeal, Trócaire has supported families to grow and sell their own food, access clean water, strengthen their livelihoods and psychologically recover from effects of country-wide conflict. Women in particular have taken on more active roles in their communities, gaining valuable business and leadership skills.

Meet Mary

A mother of nine children, Mary lives in a community frequently affected by climate crises, such as floods and droughts, which ruin her crops. Tradition farming methods no longer provide enough food for her family, and she struggles to meet their daily needs.

Through the project, Mary has received agricultural training in modern farming techniques and been provided with seeds and tools to put her new skills into practice. Programme staff visit her regularly to offer hands-on-support, and her farm is now thriving, with improvements in planting, soil management and water conservation.

“Since the start of the project, my farming skills have improved, and my harvest, especially groundnuts and sorghum, has increased. Now I can sell a surplus and keep my children in school without struggle.” Mary.

Community handpumps have also been rehabilitated, providing safe and reliable water for the first time in years. This has reduced water-borne diseases and eased the burden on women and girls, who previously had to walk long distances to collect water.

Photograph: Mary and her children harvesting their groundnut crop

Mary has also joined a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), where she’s learnt how to save, borrow and manage money. The VSLA’s provide safe, supportive spaces where women like Mary can build confidence, share ideas and lean on each other. Mary’s group has created a social support fund to pay for school fees for orphaned children in their community, a powerful example of how women’s empowerment can create wider community impact.

“I didn’t know anything about saving before, but now, I save every week and take small loans to pay school fees for my six school-going children.” Mary.

Beyond farming and finance, the project has also established ‘Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces’ where participants can access psychosocial support and life-skills sessions. Here, Mary learns about gender equality and how to advocate for herself and others. In a country where insecurity and displacement can put women and girls at heighted risk of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), these spaces also serve as vital lifelines, supporting survivors to regain confidence and a sense of safety.

“I used to be quiet about my struggles, but I have confidence now to talk about my rights, and I support other women to know theirs too.” Mary.

Photograph: Mary in her community

Learn more about Trocaire’s project.

For people living in the village of Vangkhom, Laos, there is always the fear of an explosion due to the deadly unexploded bombs that scatter the area. This impacts the access to vital land that communities need to live and expand their livelihoods.

Through their one-year UK Aid Match project, MAG teams are searching and clearing the land, and delivering lifesaving lessons to members of the community so they are aware of risks associated with lethal items and help promote safer behaviour throughout the village.

In the first six months of the project, between April and September 2023, the MAG teams have cleared 149,605 square metres of land which has directly impacted the lives of 154 women, men and children. They have also disposed of 148 deadly explosive items.

Photo: The MAGs clearing team on the land in Vangkhom

As well as the clearing of land, the lessons are having a huge impact within the communities. Xaiyaphong and Nountha, two boys who attended the sessions, found two bombs on the way to school. They said “We used rocks to mark the location where we found them and then told our parents and teacher about them”. Thanks to the lessons, the boys, their parents and teacher knew exactly what to do by notifying the MAGs team, who were then able to safely dispose of the items.

Now children can play and go to school without fear, and families can use the newly cleared land to plant crops, investing in their own futures.

Visit MAG’s website to find out more about them and their UK Aid Match project.