Village savings change the lives of women and children in Aweil East

A quiet transformation is unfolding in Rum Marial village, Baac Payam, Aweil East County. For years, long walks in search of drinking water defined daily life for many families in Rum Marial village, Baac Payam, Aweil East County, limiting opportunities, especially for women, but the formation of a community saving group and the construction of a water yard are now helping families build not just resilience but dreams, especially for their children.

Bakhita Anger, 32, is a mother of five, two girls and three boys. She wakes up early every morning with courage to provide for her children. “I used to walk hours to sell my vegetables at the nearby Malual Koon local market,” she recalls. Without a proper market stall, Bakhita and other mothers used to sell their farm produce under a tree.

Her dream is simple but powerful, to see her children acquire quality education, something Bakhita herself never had the opportunity to achieve. One of her daughters, Nyadeng, 15 years old, is preparing to sit for her primary leaving examinations this year. “I am working hard to see my daughters complete their studies. " For Bakhita, this success is proof that saving money together is paying off.

Life in Baac Payam is challenging for business women. The nearest market is miles away, and health centres for their children are far from reach. Women had limited access to business opportunities, such as loans, training programmes, and markets to sell their products. But the solar‑powered water yard has changed everything.

Bakhita and 25 other villagers formed a savings group called ‘Tokmac’, which means “Lighting Fire” in Dinka. The group has 15 women and 10 men. Every Tuesday, they meet under this big tree, and each contributes 2,500 South Sudanese pounds (about 0.5 US dollars), money they earn from doing casual work and selling firewood and farm produce, including groundnuts and vegetables.

Bakitha says that their savings group has become a significant source of support and hope for mothers in her community. “When one of us gets an emergency, they borrow some money and later return it with interest,” she added. Remembering the impact of her group,

Bakitha shared, “Our group is a great relief for us. Once we divide the savings, I will use my share to pay for my daughter’s Primary Leaving Examination fees.”

Action for Children Development Foundation (ACDF) and World Vision South Sudan, through a BMZ–Nexus Project, trained Bakhita and members of her community on how to grow vegetables, market them, and save money. This training helped them to generate income that they now use to pay school fees, respond to emergencies, and invest in small businesses.

Beyond the training for saving for transformation, the project also gave savings kits, installed a water yard and fenced it, and introduced a drip irrigation system that now supports year-round vegetable production in the area.

Asunta Nyibol and seven others charged with managing and maintaining this water system now have a water system close to their homes. “Before, I used to walk two hours to fetch water. Now, clean water is at our reach,” Asunta Nyibol recalls.

This water system now supplies clean and safe water to families in five villages across Baac Payam. Built to serve both households and domestic animals, it provides a reliable source of water in a community where access has long been a challenge.

To ensure this facility goes beyond project implementation, seven water user committee members, including Asunta Nyibol, were trained to manage and oversee it. Every family here contributes 2,000 SSP, while those with livestock contribute 3,000 for maintenance, a demonstration of a shared responsibility.

The construction of this water system in South Sudan, where safe water scarcity is overwhelming, has done more than quench thirst. It is more than a resource; it is life, dignity, and opportunity for local communities to thrive. Access to safe water has encouraged agriculture, strengthened community savings, and given mothers like Bakhit and Asunta hope.

About the BMZ-funded project

The BMZ–Nexus Project is funded by the German government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by World Vision in partnership with the Action for Children Development Foundation (ACDF). It aims to assist families and communities in Aweil East and Aweil North counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, supporting those affected and displaced by floods and conflict, including South Sudanese returnees. This project also promotes lasting resilience; the project provides access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services. It also supports climate-smart agriculture, provides technical and vocational training, and implements community-based conflict mitigation initiatives that strengthen peace and self-reliance.

Story and photos by Moses Sakondo /World Vision South Sudan