Download logoFor women displaced by conflict in Tambura, Western Equatoria State, developing new skills that enable them to set up new businesses are offering more than an income. They are helping families and entire communities rebuild, regain independence, and seize the opportunity of a safe and peaceful return home.
Six years after conflict forced her to flee her home, Jackline Moses is still living in a tent in Tambura. Despite the persistent uncertainty about security and her prolonged displacement, she has found a way to keep moving forward.
“Since the conflict started, the whereabouts of my husband and other relatives are unknown. A lot of bloodshed happened, and many people died here. We managed to escape but we saw terrible things on the way, including finding the bodies of a mother and her four children. This traumatized me, and I asked myself, ‘What is going on?’ We need peace.”
Through vocational training supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, Jackline learned the skill of shoemaking that has since become a lifeline for her family.
She turns pieces of material into footwear that she sells in the local market. The income helps her feed her children and pay their school fees, giving her a measure of independence while she waits for the peace that will one day allow her family to return home.
“On a good market day, sometimes I sell three pairs for between 35,000 and 40,000 South Sudanese pounds each. This helps me to support my family.”
She is not alone.
Julie Bii has also turned livelihood training into new opportunities. After receiving catering training and start-up utensils, Julie opened a restaurant. With her husband away, the business has become an important source of income for her entire family.
“I have customers coming in, and I sometimes slaughter a goat a day. It is really helping me.”
While her restaurant is giving her income and a renewed sense of independence, this can only take her so far when she remains displaced.
“We have been suffering for so long and our children are dying in a way we don’t understand. We want peace for all of us to start returning home,” she said.
Her words capture the deeper reality of life for many displaced families in Tambura: livelihoods can help people survive and rebuild, but lasting recovery depends on peace and the ability to return home safely.
The experiences of Jackline and Julie also demonstrate the important role women play in strengthening families and contributing to community recovery. Through small businesses and livelihood activities, women are not only supporting their households but also creating opportunities for greater resilience and independence.
Njoki Kinyanjui, UNMISS Head of Yambio Field Office, says women in Tambura are increasingly taking leadership roles in peace efforts, conflict resolution, and economic activities.
“Women are taking leadership seriously. They are leading efforts for peace, conflict resolution, and establishing businesses. Over the years, UNMISS has contributed to these efforts as partners for peace, including through the previous presence of a temporary base and we are now starting to see the impact of that work.”
UNMISS works with communities through an integrated approach that combines protection of civilians, peacebuilding, and support for local resilience, with a focus on preventing tensions from escalating into violence.
For displaced women, their hopes extend beyond economic survival. What they want most is the opportunity to return home in safety.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
