From survivor to saver: Susanna's nightly ritual of rebuilding

Susanna Adiang 40 years old, these days, her evenings have a quiet ritual. She sits down, counts the money her business made that day, sets aside the profit, and saves a portion, same as always, steady as a heartbeat. 

It wasn't always this way. Susanna a survivor of gender-based violence (GBV), was in 2025 referred to World Vision by a local GBV committee member at a time when rebuilding her life probably felt impossible. But she didn't just recover, so she built something. 

“This business gave me a new purpose,” she says. This year alone, that purpose registered five of her children in school, three in primary school and two in secondary school. 

With support from Irish Aid, World Vision’s enabling meaningful participation of women and girls for essential rights (EMPOWER) project has supported over 90 vulnerable women like Susanna in Melut County with Income generating activity (IGA) start up kits including Sorghum, Rice, Coffee, lentils, onions, oil, salt, and sugar right from 2023.   

“Besides registering my children in school, I was able to renovate the roof of our house, so we are safe when the rain comes,” she happily shares. 

Susanna is not just managing day-to-day, she's planning on multiple fronts at once. She's part of a Village Savings and Loan Association, one of 30 members contributing 25,000 SSP ($5) three times a week. She also belongs to a second savings group, with 32 members each putting in 5,000 SSP ($1) daily. 

“I also have a personal daily savings to cater for family emergencies like sickness, feeding, or anything required at school.” And every cycle, she restocks her business, keeping the engine running. 

It's not a single, dramatic turnaround. It's discipline, repeated daily profit, savings, restocking, school fees, and a safer roof each piece supporting the next.

Story and photos by Scovia Charles, Communications Officer/World Vision South Sudan