“Before Finnish Refugee Council came to Akobo, my life was hard. I depended on relatives who could not give me sufficient support but now my life is better.”
For Nyanhial Gattuak from Wech-nyang Village in Bilkey Payam, Jonglei State in the Eastern part of South Sudan, this is more than a reflection it marks a turning point. Her story echoes the experiences of many others whose lives have been reshaped through FRC’s work in South Sudan.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence in 2011.However, the country continues to face insecurity driven by conflict between government and opposition forces, alongside recurring shocks such as flooding and food shortages. Today, over 9 million people require humanitarian assistance.
Ongoing violence and food insecurity have displaced families within the country, while others have sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan. More recently, conflict in Sudan and tensions in parts of Ethiopia have forced many South Sudanese to return; often to communities already under strain.
In this context, FRC supports vulnerable communities through multipurpose cash assistance, financial literacy training, and psychosocial support helping families meet immediate needs while rebuilding their futures.
Nyanhial’s Journey
Hostilities with host communities, coupled with food shortages, forced Nyanhial and her family to return to South Sudan in 2023.
“When we came back, life was very difficult,” she says. “Relatives supported us with food, but it was too little, and we could not plant because of flooding.”
As her husband continued his studies in Ethiopia, Nyanhial became the sole provider for their four children covering food, school, and household needs, while still supporting him from a distance.
Her situation began to change when she received cash assistance from FRC.
“With the cash, I was able to buy food, clothes, and take our children to school,” she explains.
Nyanhial later started a small tea and coffee business, earning about 8 USD a day. Through financial literacy training, she also joined a savings group with other women, allowing her to reinvest in her business and support her family more sustainably.
“I am grateful to FRC for the cash and the knowledge,” she says. “Now my life is better.”
Nyamuoch’s Experience
“Being a woman in Akobo isn’t easy,” says Nyamuoch Simon, a widow and member of a community-based women’s group. “If you are widowed, you may be forced to remarry within the same family. Rape is also common.”
With support from FRC, Nyamuoch and other women have been trained to respond to gender-based violence (GBV) and support survivors.
“In the past, many women suffered in silence,” she says. “Now we know how to help.”
She provides basic counselling, supports women at the health facility where she works as a nurse, and helps lead community awareness efforts. Together with other women, she organizes small meetings where they discuss GBV, share information, and encourage reporting.
They also reach women through churches, radio programmes, and home visits, particularly supporting those afraid to speak out.
What began as a support group has grown into a network of women helping each other navigate challenges, protect their rights, and rebuild their lives.
Looking Ahead
Nyanhial and Nyamuoch’s stories reflect a broader shift in communities like Akobo, where women are building pathways to stability, dignity, and leadership.
Through cash assistance, financial literacy, and community-based protection, women are not only meeting immediate needs, but they are also creating lasting change in their households and communities. So far, FRC, together with its implementing partner Nile Hope, has supported 1,300 households with multipurpose cash assistance, provided financial literacy training to 1,600 people, reached nearly 9,700 community members with GBV awareness efforts, and delivered targeted protection support to 56 survivors.
These changes may seem small, but they represent a transformative shift from vulnerability to agency and from dependency to self-reliance. For FRC, this is the essence of our work; enabling individuals and communities to rebuild and thrive on their own terms.
Read more about our work in South Sudan here.