World Vision South Sudan

Due to the severe impact of heavy rains since July of this year, most roads leading to World Vision nutrition sites in Ajojo, Panacier, Mabior Titi, Mangol, and Majak Nyuom in Gogrial East, Warrap State, have been flooded. This lack of road access has made it extremely difficult for our staff and volunteers to reach the communities and deliver essential nutrition supplies provided by USAID through UNICEF and World Food Programme, such as ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), ready-to-use supplemental food (RUSF), and CSB++ (a fortified blended food made from corn and soya). To ensure the timely delivery of these supplies, our team utilized a water route on December 4. Our nutrition staff, community nutrition workers, and volunteers worked together to transport the supplies across the river. Community women helped by serving as porters, picking up the goods along the riverbank and distributing them to various nutrition sites, including the Ajojo Primary Health Care Unit. Photo courtesy of Mangong Ngot Kuech, a World Vision community nutrition worker in Gogrial East.

STAFF REFLECTION: There’s more to South Sudan than meets the eye "I surfed through a sea of clouds and curious gazes of strangers I had just met. Amidst the blue skies, I noticed faint shades of brown, green, and black, as each gaze offered hints of emotions, ranging from deep sorrow to rising excitement. Upon entering the villages and refugee settlement site, we were welcomed by people — women, men, girls, and boys — who smiled, laughed, danced, cried, and shouted, along with many silent nods, eager to be noticed. This is South Sudan. Vivid. Enduring. Sweltering. A country that withstands crisis after crisis yet remains warm, sunny, colorful, and hopeful. This reflects the essence of stories marked by fragility—a wave of highs and lows, of knowing and unknowing, of loss and the desire to keep living,” writes Diwa Gacosta, World Vision in South Sudan senior manager of Advocacy and Communications as she reflected on her mission trip to communities and the Wedweil Refugee Settlement in Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. “The place, the people, and the purpose captured my heart in ways others may never fully understand. This is the reason, why despite the many odds, I chose, and will continue to choose, to serve in South Sudan,” she adds. Diwa was part of the organising team who supported the visit of World Vision Canada President and CEO of World Vision Canada, Michael Messenger, along with our East Africa Regional Leader, Lilian Dodzo, last November. Photo taken by: André Guardiola/WorldVision at Wedweil Refugee Settlement #SudanCrisis #SudaneseRefugees #WeAreWorldVision

This week, we welcomed Geneviève Asselin, the Deputy Director of the Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada South Sudan Development Programme, to our project in Rajaf, Central Equatoria State. She visited alongside representatives from CARE (CARE Canada CARE SOUTH SUDAN) and War Child Canada to witness the significant impact of the Fortifying Equality and Economic Diversification for Resilience (FEED) II project on local communities, particularly women. Director Asselin remarked, “The leadership and empowerment of women I have witnessed today, along with the profits from their small farms, have exceeded our expectations.” Dorance Cooper, Operations Director for World Vision South Sudan, emphasized the importance of support from Global Affairs Canada. She stated, “Seeing the impact of our work in the community is always special. Without the support from GAC and the people in Rajaf, we wouldn't have achieved these results. We are very grateful for your support and our collaboration with War Child Canada and Care International!” Thanks to Canadian funding, the FEED II project is making a significant difference in addressing the urgent needs of people in South Sudan. It is heartening to witness the progress being made! World Vision World Vision East Africa World Vision Canada #16DaysofActivism #womenempowerment #ruralwomen

Last week, World Vision South Sudan hosted 15 religious leaders, including bishops, reverends, pastors, priests, and lecturers from various churches and institutions, to discuss a critical issue: the fight against child hunger and malnutrition. During this important meeting, the leaders exchanged ideas on how faith communities can make a difference. They discussed the importance of: ✅ educating church members about nutrition ✅ advocating for better government support ✅ identifying local resources to assist families in need Mesfin Loha, Country Director of World Vision in South Sudan, opened the dialogue by emphasizing the significance of collaboration with the church. "In everything we do at World Vision, the church is at the forefront. We urgently need the support of churches and faith-based organizations in our efforts to spread the message of ending child hunger and malnutrition in South Sudan," he stated. "Let's work together to teach families how to grow sufficient nutritious food, advocate for nutrition-sensitive policies, and secure more funding and political will for nutrition programs," he added. #ENOUGH #sdg2 #zerohunger #nutrition #southsudan World Vision World Vision East Africa

Starting the week with some good news: Yesterday, 02 December, we signed the contract with the Ministry of Finance and Planning (MoFP) for the implementation of the emergency flood response activities in Twic and Gogrial West counties in Warrap State, under the phase II of the Enhancing Community Resilience and Local Governance Project (ECRP II). The project is funded by The World Bank through the MoFP ECRP II Project Management Unit (PMU). The agreement was signed between Hon. Benjamin Ayali Koyongwa Under Secretary for Planning, Ministry of Finance and Planning and Mesfin Loha, World Vision South Sudan Country Director; and witnessed by Mr. Malony Akau Nai, Director General for Administration and Finance, Local Government Board (Acting Chairperson of Local Government Board) ; also present during the signing was Guyson Adikobaa, Project Manager, MoFP, ECRP II PMU; Stella Kiden, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, MoFP, ECRP II PMU; and Abraham Mabior, Support Services Director, World Vision South Sudan. #emergencyresponse #climateaction #DRR #flooding #SouthSudan World Vision USA

We celebrate the inauguration of the three Watershed Management Committees last week in Aweil East and Aweil Centre, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state. This achievement is part of the Watershed Approaches for Climate Resilience in the Agro-pastoral Landscapes Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility through UNDP and implemented by World Vision in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.   Each committee has 15 members, including representatives from local communities, government secondees, churches, and community-based organizations. Their role will be to manage water resources effectively and ensure the smooth operation of related initiatives.   Together, we can protect our environment and provide our communities with access to sufficient clean water! World Vision World Vision East Africa #resilience #climateaction #SDG 6 #SDG13 #SDG15 #SouthSudan

Today the world unites for one cause the 16 Days of Activism against #GenderBasedViolence as we raise awareness of this harmful vice that continues to eat into our society. I can't help but reflect on one moment that tore at my heart, which continues to haunt me from my recent visit to South Sudan. I interacted with Fatoumata (not her real name) whose friend pulled me to the side as I was chatting with some children. Fatoumata’s friend told me that Fatou needed help. When I asked what help she required, the friend said to me I should just talk to Fatou.  It was then that she led me to a room where I found Fatou.  It was here that Fatou opened her heart and shared with me a heart-wrenching encounter of how she had been raped by 3 men in East Darfur in her home. This was while her five children watched. She was raped in the presence of her husband too, who was held at gunpoint by a fourth man. She was subjected to other sexual abuse that is just too graphic and horrific to print. After the rape, her husband was shot dead at point blank rage in front of Fatou and her children. She says to this day she still hears his screams of agony as he struggled to protect her. She also hears the helpless screams of her children. She weeps as she narrates this painful ordeal to me. I have never felt so helpless and at a loss of how to comfort her. She told me that the image of that night replays over and over again in her head, and even after she finally managed to flee East Darfur with her 5 children, she still is very traumatized and afraid of an attack every night. She said her children are also traumatized.  Fatou and her children are all receiving psychosocial support in the refugee settlement, however, she and her children still need continued support on their journey to recovery. I will continue to uplift her and her children in prayers, as well as check on her progress. What is unfortunate is that there are so many women in Sudan and in various refugee camps who have lived the same experience and have a similar, traumatising story to tell. This is the ugly side of the Sudanese war, where rape is being used as a weapon of war against women and girl children.  In these 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, we  World Vision call for an end to sexual violence and abuse of women and girl children in Sudan and around the world. They should not be targeted. Let us #UNITE! And Invest to prevent #violence against women and girls.   🌍❤️ #RefugeeSupport #WorldVision #UNHCR #16daysofactivism #NoExcuse #orangeworld #SDG5 #16Days

Thank you for your meaningful visit, Lilian Dodzo. We appreciate you highlighting the transformative impact of #schoolmeals on children’s well-being and school performance. We were honored to have you with us last week. World Vision World Vision East Africa

As the Convention of the Rights of the Child celebrates its 35th #WorldChildrensDay anniversary, World Vision is drawing attention to an urgent global regression in children’s rights.     Too many #children face preventable risks—death, hunger, abuse, exploitation, and inadequate education.     Together, we say #Enough to these challenges. By ensuring children are involved and prioritised in decision-making processes we can build a brighter and safer future for every child.     It is time to act and protect every child's future.  Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dMUDmCJb   #CRC35 #AllForChildren

I just returned from an eye-opening trip to the Wedweil Refugee Settlement in Aweil West, South Sudan, where I witnessed incredible resilience and hope amidst challenging conditions. During our visit, Michael Messenger, President and CEO, World Vision Canada, the World Vision South Sudan team, and I met with Sudanese refugees, engaging with them and listening to their voices. Still engraved in my head are the voices of children running around, some playing and others screaming, and the beautiful smiles of hope. Speaking to some of them my heart wells up in pain. All they ask is for peace so they can go back home, see their friends, and go back to school! A harsh reality as the conflict in Sudan continues. Since the crisis in Sudan erupted in April last year, Wedweil Refugee Settlement has hosted over 13,000 refugees from Sudan. Our efforts include child protection, mental health support, WASH initiatives, and education programs to help build sustainable livelihoods.  As we continue to scale up our response, we call on all parties to the conflict to agree on a cessation of hostilities and promote unhindered humanitarian action and the protection of civilians.