Faith in action: World Vision staff lead outreach to support displaced families in Juba

Inspired by World Vision’s core value “Committed to the Poor,” World Vision South Sudan staff went beyond their formal roles and project locations to support internally displaced families living in Hai Malakal Cemetery in Juba. Through personal giving, staff delivered clothes, shoes, handbags, and washing soap to 150 families, demonstrating faith in action beyond work deliverables and timelines.

Hai Malakal Cemetery is home to more than 1,700 displaced families, most of them women, children, older people, and persons with disabilities. Many were displaced from across Juba County and are unable to afford land or rent. Families live in torn tents set among graves, facing hunger, unsafe drinking water, poor hygiene, unemployment, and limited access to education and healthcare. Many children are out of school and resort to begging to survive.

The outreach was part of the John the Baptist Box initiative, an employee-led effort that creates space for staff to live out their Christian faith with humility, compassion, and boldness. The initiative was coordinated by the Faith and Development team in partnership with the local church and community leadership.

“The John the Baptist Box initiative aims to promote a culture of generosity, compassion, and servant leadership among staff members and to provide a practical way for staff to live out our Christian values through tangible acts of giving. It aims to strengthen staff engagement in community service beyond formal programming activities,” said Mesfin Loha, World Vision South Sudan Country Director.

During the distribution, the settlement was filled with joy and gratitude. “Since my wife died, I have been both father and mother to my children,” said Simon, a 54-year-old father of eight children, “I’m grateful for this support. I wish you would come back to support our children’s education.”

Simon’s wife died in 2014 shortly after giving birth to their youngest child. Injured during the 2016 conflict, Simon now sells charcoal to support his family but struggles to meet basic needs. For women like Lona, the donation restored dignity, even as daily survival remains difficult. “Now I have something to wear, but food is still a challenge. I pray that we can also be supported with food,” Lona said. “Many of us survive on one meal a day.”

Despite these hardships, the community’s faith remains strong. Residents have built St. Mary Prayer Centre using old iron sheets, where they gather for worship and prayer. The pastor-in-charge, John Wani, highlighted the urgent needs for schools, safe water, and support for elderly people and persons with disabilities, noting that many families collect water directly from the River Nile, about a kilometre away.

About the John the Baptist Box 

The John the Baptist Box ministry is an employee-led initiative where staff members voluntarily contribute money and in-kind support, including clothes, shoes, bedsheets, and plates, to support the most vulnerable in the community. It aims to promote dignity, care, and spiritual encouragement through the provision of essential items packaged for the vulnerable community. Last year, this support benefited Sudanese refugees, who were sheltered in Buluk Police Station, and this year our support went to internally displaced people living in Hai Malakal Cemetery.

Photos & story by Betty Amum/World Vision South Sudan