South Sudan refugee staff improves camp life for people with special needs in Invepi, Uganda

Peace Winds continues supporting South Sudanese refugees in the northern Uganda Invepi refugee residential area.  Peace Winds has 23 staff working daily on various support activities in the community.  Nine of the staff are South Sudan refugees who are working to improve life for their fellow refugees.

Esther is one of the South Sudanese staff members helping support community projects in the camp. A refugee, Esther arrived in February 2017 to the Invepi refugee residential district.  Since March 2018, she has worked as a PWJ project assistant.   “As a project assistant at PWJ, I support construction projects such as shelters and latrines in the field,” she said when asked about her role.

To determine where the support is most needed, Peace Winds is sending staff members to each house in every single camp village to find PSN (people with special needs, i.e. senior citizens, people with physical disabilities, children who have lost their parents, etc.) to determine which areas have the greatest need for updated facilities and other improvements.  “We want to focus our efforts as widely as possible to reach more vulnerable households,” Esther said of the project.

With staff like Esther, Peace Winds can ensure improvements and new facilities reach those who need them most. Her enthusiasm is clear:  “I enjoy interacting with people and hearing their stories.  I really feel rewarded doing this work.”  Esther’s dedication to the work is difficult to miss.  She has three young children and has a babysitter come from a nearby village while she is working during the day.

Esther is outstanding in her daily work while dreaming of a better future.  “If the situation in South Sudan were to turn around, I would like to return home and build my own house and ensure my children can live in a safe and secure environment.”  She adds, “I am eager to use my experiences here as a project assistant to develop activities that can contribute to reconstruction in South Sudan.”

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