Empowered Worldview: Restoring hope and faith among the displaced in South Sudan

When conflict in Malakal destroyed John Tuk Awi’s business, he lost everything — his income, his stability, and the future he had been building for his family. Years later, the Empowered Worldview program helped him rediscover hope and the confidence to rebuild his life.

For more than nine years, John Tuk Awi, a father of four, has lived in the Malakal Protection of Civilians (POC) site after conflict forced him and thousands of others to flee their homes in 2017. Once a proud resident of Malakal town, John had been building a future for his family, running a small business and working hard to improve their lives.

Then the fighting began.

His shop was looted. All his goods were taken. In a single moment, he lost his source of income and the stability he had worked so hard to build. With no capital to restart, John became fully dependent on humanitarian assistance.

“Everything I had was gone,” he recalls. “I had no business and no income. It was one of the hardest times of my life.”

During those difficult years, the church became his place of strength and comfort.

In 2025, his church leaders selected him to participate in the Empowered Worldview training run by World Vision. The sessions helped him rediscover hope, rebuild his confidence, and reflect on his identity and purpose.

“The training opened my eyes again,” John says. “I started to feel hopeful and ready to begin my life again.”

Through the training, he also connected with others facing similar struggles. Sharing experiences reduced his stress and strengthened his determination to try again.

After completing the program, John decided to start small. He began cultivating crops along the river near the POC — okra, tomatoes, and kudra (local leafy greens). The harvest provided enough income to restart a small trading business inside the camp market.

Today, John earns between 110,000 and 120,000 South Sudanese Pounds a day (approximately US$ 20) on a good day.

“Now I can feed my family without waiting for relief,” he says proudly. “I pay my children’s school fees, and I can even save a little.”

Farming and business have restored not only his income, but also his dignity and independence. With growing stability, John is now planning to move his family back to Malakal town by mid-2026. His children already attend school outside the POC, and he hopes to open a permanent shop in the Malakal market.

“My biggest challenge before was money to start again,” he explains. “But now, with what I earn, I believe 2026 will be the year I take my family home.”

Looking back, John credits Empowered Worldview for helping him shift his mindset.

“It gave me strength and changed how I think,” he says. “It helped me believe I can rebuild my life. I am very thankful.”

About Empowered Worldview

Empowered Worldview (EWV) is World Vision’s biblically grounded approach to empowering individuals, faith actors, and communities to drive lasting change. Its goal is to mobilise people’s God-given gifts, talents, and resources — spiritual, social, physical, and economic — to improve sustainable child well-being.

EWV addresses dependency mindsets by promoting dignity, personal responsibility, and initiative. Through a curriculum rooted in biblical principles, participants reflect on identity, hope, and vision for the future, building confidence to take action.

In South Sudan, EWV has helped families work together, start businesses, and create brighter futures for their children.

Story and photos by Alan Leju/World Vision