Spreading Hope Through Women's Empowerment – Veronica’s Story

If Veronica had a nickname, it would be Ms. Sunshine, because despite the adversity she had to witness at a tender age, she smiles so bright, and one cannot miss her contagious enthusiasm, joy and positivity. Veronica Nyakuol is one of the 33 women that comprise the Victim Support Group (VSG) benefitting from the Transitional Justice project in Mangaten. The project is funded by the United Nations Secretary General's Peacebuilding Fund and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with Vision for Humanity and the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Since 2022, the Transitional Justice project has served as a platform for fostering healing, reconciliation, and recovery through different life-skills and psycho-social counselling. The Mangaten camp, home to 16,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), is one of the places where this project was implemented.

Veronica, a 21-year-old, serves as an excellent interpreter for the group. She performs her role with a warm, welcoming smile that never fades. Wearing a white t-shirt decorated with "I am empowered" across her chest, she truly embodies this message through her actions. A natural leader, Veronica approaches her responsibilities with infectious joy and graceful confidence.

When she is not at the camp, she is pursuing International Relations at the College of Humanity and Social Sciences in Juba. Her passion, she says, is to help other women to walk the healing journey. She also hopes to advocate for voiceless people, especially mothers, to identify the passion within themselves.

Beyond the psycho-social training, the women have been equipped with life-skills to make body jelly, shampoo, bar soap, and basket weaving. The products created are of good quality and they are quickly grabbed off the market. They are also cheap compared to the market price. In addition, they are sold within the camp, creating a bridge for the supply/ demand gap. 
When they make sales, 50% of the profits goes to re-investment of the raw materials, while the other 50% is divided among the women, to enhance their economic wellbeing at the household level.

Veronica describes her life before the project as financially tough. “It was hard to access school because of the heavy school fees, and we barely managed to survive on my mother’s salary for basic needs.” Her mother works in a restaurant. Thanks to the VSG project, the profit share that she takes home allows her to contribute to her school fees and to the needs at home such as charcoal and food.
As part of their training, the participants underwent a dialogue that taught them about basic human and women’s rights. It was an eye-opening session because it taught them about their role and value in society. “The IDP girls and mothers that attended the training felt a true sense of value. Regardless of their status as IDPs, today they are  proud South Sudanese. Our voices are meaningful.”- said Veronica.

The participants also learned about the action plan of the government towards the people in IDPs and got comprehensive learning about Transitional Justice and Reconciliation. “The training on Transitional Justice allowed us to feel more confident and aware of our rights, and my hope is that other women and girls in the camp can also get the opportunity to learn about this.”- said Veronica.
The Peacebuilding Fund's Transitional Justice project has transformed lives through women's empowerment, as exemplified by Veronica's journey. 

By combining psychosocial counseling with practical skills training, the project has provided healing while creating economic opportunities to the participants. Women like Veronica now contribute to household finances, pursue education, and understand their rights. This holistic approach has built a supportive community where trauma evolves into triumph, demonstrating effective peacebuilding through women's empowerment.