Hope in Hardship: Nyanakoch’s Story of Survival and Growth

For years, women in the vibrant community of Melut County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State have continued to encounter various challenges. They have faced displacement, loss of property and loved ones. They are living in a constant state of uncertainty due to the presence and incidents of armed conflict, communal violence, cattle raids, and natural disasters such as floods.

Nyanakoch Wal Ngor is among these women. She now lives at Dingthoma Camp—one of the most populated internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Melut.

A mother of nine, Nyanakoch lost her husband during the 2014 crisis. Despite her efforts to provide for her family, life remained difficult. She sold tea and charcoal, but the profits were too small to meet her family’s basic needs.

Today, however, her story has changed. Through the Right to Grow (R2G) project, women like her were able to gain financial literacy training and encouraged the formation of community savings groups.

At 32, Nyanakoch grabbed this opportunity and joined the Kouny Saving Group. Through this group, she was able to save small earnings from her tea and charcoal businesses.

Within just three years, her savings grew significantly, enabling her to purchase goats. These goats have since reproduced and now provide milk. In a community where goats are a valuable source of income, Nyanakoch says she no longer lives in uncertainty and can now budget for her children's education. 

"After three years of endurance and proper care, my goats now give me milk, and in times of hardship, they offer me a way out. Now I know everything grows slowly with time."

About the Right to Grow (R2G) Project:

Right2Grow is a five-year programme that aims to improve the well-being of communities through a wide range of health and social services. Led by a consortium of national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and backed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the projects address critical areas such as health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), food security, child protection, and budget advocacy. In Melut County, Upper Nile State, World Vision South Sudan has been actively implementing the project, which has strengthened local support systems, including mother-to-mother support and saving groups. These groups play a vital role in fostering community ties, building resilience, and enhancing nutrition among vulnerable populations.

Story and Photo by Leju Alan Roba | Emergency Communication Officer