African Women Rising

Mary is one of close to two million refugees in Uganda. She was forced to flee from her home in South Sudan in the middle of the night as rebels attacked her village. It took Mary and the nine children in her care over a week to walk to Uganda. 4 of the children are hers and 5 belong to her sister who was killed. Life in Palabek refugee camp is not easy. Mary work as a day laborer to earn money to feed the children but there is rarely work available. African Women Rising started working with Mary a year ago and helping her start a garden that has over 30 different fruits and vegetables. The garden has made the family food secure. The income from the sale of vegetables pays for school fees and medical bills. “The garden has changed our lives” says Mary. “The children are healtier and we can afford to live better. Life here is difficult, the garden makes it easier.” Mary, 46 years old, South Sudanese refugee living in Uganda.

Photo by Brian Hodges Photography

“I came to this refugee camp six months ago. My husband is still in South Sudan. This place is not so good. Our house gets flooded when it rains, and the children get sick all the time. I got these bags of corn and beans yesterday. This food is supposed to last us for a month, it will maybe be enough for two weeks.” Nyatien, 26 years old, mother of six children.

AWR has been working in Palabek refugee camp since 2017. Our Permagarden program help women like Nyatien grow food so they can supplement the food they receive from World Food Program and become food secure.



Photo by Brian Hodges Photography