Thriving Amidst Trials
An update on South Sudanese refugees living in the Mungula and Olua refugees camps in Northern Uganda
Even in the midst of severe hardships of refugee life, greatly exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic as well as continuing violence in their home country, the refugees in Mungula and Olua are finding ways to not only survive, but even thrive.
Agriculture & Animal Co-Operative
Faced with diminishing and unreliable food deliveries from the UN, the refugees have organized an agricultural and animal co-op, which includes men and women of both the refugee and local Ugandan communities. The maize, sim-sim, okra, and other vegetables are growing extremely well with plentiful rain. Excessive rain may threaten the harvest, but they are also constructing storage facilities to preserve the crops for the dry season. They are also raising bulls for slaughter and sale as well as goats for local consumption. Both projects are proceeding well, with several goat kids being born recently. Chickens are also being raised for both meat and eggs.
Solar Power Co-Operative
Olua has had a thriving solar energy co-op for over a year. They have partnered with a women’s sewing co-op to provide power for a sewing machine which enables the women to make sheets and wall hangings that are quite profitable. They are now expanding to provide lighting and cell phone and computer charging. A similar project is about to get started in Mungula. The co-ops include men and women as well as boys and girls, giving them the opportunity to contribute to the community and learn valuable skills. Our team hopes to partner with local Ugandans in this co-operative as an effort towards peace building.
Soap Making Co-Operative
The soap making co-op had been very successful and needed but had to be suspended due to the inability to obtain the need supplies (due to pandemic restrictions). They have plans to resume activity as transportation opens up.
Girls’ Salons
Girls and women have set up hair salons in both settlements, which provide both useful skills and income for participants.
Current Challenges
Violence in the home area of many of the refugees continues to cause trauma as they learn of destruction of homes and villages, and death of their loved ones still in South Sudan. Recently, another 100 people have been killed from the hometown of many of the refugees. Our staff and leaders are responding by making visits to the homes of affected families. They also are holding small, socially distant outdoor trauma healing training, using the curriculum developed by staff board members.