Suher Ahmed: “This group lifted me when I had fallen” 

When Suher Ahmed arrived in South Sudan, she carried more memories of loss than possessions. Forced to flee Khartoum at the height of the war, she left behind everything she had worked for, her home, her stability, and her small chicken-rearing business that had once sustained her livelihood and pride. She arrived in Renk with very little, weighed down by uncertainty and deep emotional trauma.

“I was completely broken,” Suher recalls vividly. “The war took everything from me,my home, my business, my peace.”

Suher’s story reflects the situation of many women displaced by the Sudan conflict. Like others, she lost not only her material assets but also her sense of security and independence. The sudden disruption of her life left her struggling to cope with loss, rebuild her identity, and find connection in an unfamiliar environment.

Her turning point came in July 2025, when she joined the Protective Hands Association in Renk under the “Enhancing Resilience of Women and Girls in Transit and IDP Sites within Upper Nile State” project, implemented by UN Women in partnership with Humanitarian Aid for South Sudan (HASS) and funded by the Government of Japan. The project aims to strengthen the resilience and recovery of women and girls affected by the Sudan conflict by supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, refugees, and host communities through an integrated approach that combines humanitarian assistance with longer-term recovery support.

Within this initiative, the Protective Hands Association provided Suher with more than a place to gather, it offered a safe and supportive community of women who shared similar experiences of displacement and loss.

“But this group received me with open hearts. They have become my emotional support,” she says.

Through participation in the VSLA group activities and peer support, Suher began to regain her confidence and sense of self. Encouraged by other women, she slowly started to rebuild her life, finding strength in collective resilience and shared healing.

“I feel comfortable now. I feel like myself again,” she shares. “I am starting to stand on my feet, and I am contributing back to the group. The women encouraged me when I had nothing.”

Today, Suher’s journey highlights the impact of community-based support in restoring dignity, hope, and resilience. Her story demonstrates that recovery is not only about restoring livelihoods but also about rebuilding confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging.

As Suher puts it:
“This group lifted me when I had fallen.”