Critical Field Update, February 2025

From Loss to Hope: Jenifer’s Journey of Resilience

“When Jenifer fled Sudan with her 1 year old baby, she carried nothing but the hope of finding safety. The civil war had taken everything her home, her family, and her sense of security. Arriving in Uganda as a refugee, she faced the harsh reality of starting over in an unfamiliar land, with no source of income and a baby depending on her.

Life in the refugee camp was tough. Food was scarce, and Jenifer worried about how she would provide for her child. But through support from WGEF, she received seeds, basic farming tools, and training on vegetable gardening. With determination, she turned a small piece of land in the camp into a thriving vegetable garden.

At first, the garden was just a way to feed her child nutritious meals. But soon, Jenifer realized she could grow more than she needed and sell the surplus to other refugees. What started as a survival strategy became a source of income, allowing her to buy other essentials and regain a sense of dignity.

Today, Jenifer is not just feeding her baby she is inspiring other refugee women to do the same. She shares her knowledge with fellow mothers, helping them start their own small gardens.“

– Bukenya, Program Director

Sudan is facing ongoing violence, hunger and displacement!

Women are fleeing sexual violence, hunger, and death. Sudan is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis and is considered the worlds worst hunger catastrophe. Millions have been displaced and the cutoff of USAID has shuttered community kitchens.

Women and children fleeing to Uganda are in critical need of support. WGEF is stepping up to meet the needs of the refugees as best we can. Our staff is small, our budget is tight but we are assisting as many families as possible.

We are providing menstrual health supplies, training and economic opportunities, along with support from our Peer Counsellors and Access to Justice teams. We can’t do this without ongoing support and hope you will consider contributing to our lifesaving efforts.

Jennifer’s story is inspiring and meaningful. Together, we can change the trajectory of hopelessness and hunger, creating a brighter and more stable future for all.

In a time of global instability, women’s human rights and dignity are under attack. Pervasive global conflict is creating a lack of access to even basic human services making it more important than ever to amplify women’s voices, support their agency, and respect their struggle to create change.

Leadership Matters: Deputy Mayor Alloya

Prisca Alloya has been the Chairperson of WEF’s Peer Counselors, the Access to Justice Initiative, local member of district council and is now serving as Deputy Mayor of Gulu, the largest municipality in northern Uganda.

When WGEF member Megan noticed Sudanese refugees struggling to access affordable, nutritious food at the border to the north, she and her team streamlined the unwieldy supply chain and began delivering vegetables and cereals directly from their farms to refugee camps. Stronger local food economy, more hunger relief: Win-win.

We started this journey to improve our lives, but it has become so much more. We are proud to support our community and the refugees who depend on us. Together, we are stronger.

Megan and her group of five determined women have not only transformed their lives, but have also become a lifeline for Sudanese refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict. Recognizing the urgent need for accessible, healthy food sources among refugees from Sudan just across the border of northern Uganda, Megan and her group saw an opportunity to make a real difference. With support from the WGEF, they cut out the middlemen in the local food supply chain and began supplying fresh produce and grains directly from their farms to markets and refugee settlement camps at the border. This direct supply approach ensures that refugees receive nutritious food at affordable prices, while also stabilizing the local food economy.

A Better Way: Megan’s Story

When WGEF member Megan noticed Sudanese refugees struggling to access affordable, nutritious food at the border to the north, she and her team streamlined the unwieldy supply chain and began delivering vegetables and cereals directly from their farms to refugee camps. Stronger local food economy, more hunger relief: Win-win.

We started this journey to improve our lives, but it has become so much more. We are proud to support our community and the refugees who depend on us. Together, we are stronger.

Megan and her group of five determined women have not only transformed their lives, but have also become a lifeline for Sudanese refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict. Recognizing the urgent need for accessible, healthy food sources among refugees from Sudan just across the border of northern Uganda, Megan and her group saw an opportunity to make a real difference. With support from the WGEF, they cut out the middlemen in the local food supply chain and began supplying fresh produce and grains directly from their farms to markets and refugee settlement camps at the border. This direct supply approach ensures that refugees receive nutritious food at affordable prices, while also stabilizing the local food economy.

Their business is thriving, and the impact is profound. The group’s dedication and hard work have not only improved their own problem-solving and business acumen, but also provided essential support to those in dire need. They have become a symbol of resilience and hope, showcasing the power of empowerment, solidarity, and community-driven initiatives in fostering a sustainable local food economy to fight hunger.

In Her Own Words: Christine’s Story

It was impossible to propose a law against child marriage if I wasn’t in leadership.

The only way to protect girls from forced childhood marriage was to pass a law; the only people who could pass laws were elected leaders—so with WGEF’s support, Christine ran for office and won her seat at the table!

“I knew I can do something; I knew I can have a say to change the unfair norm in my society. But how do I do this? What can I do to foster the change that is much needed? It was a challenge, with a deep fear of how society will judge me if I speak about the silent killer of our children who were forced and married off at a tender age in exchange for animals or money.

“I believed this issue can be sorted, but as a community, we need rules that protect our daughters! The only way forward for me was to join elective leadership so that I can be among the community representatives. This I achieved with support from WGEF’s program of mentorship and technical support from Gulu Women’s Resource Centre. Every Friday evening, we sit to learn how to write position papers to be presented and learn more about public speaking. This boosted my self-esteem, I gained the popularity I needed, and I realized I can be a community leader. I am already leading a group of over 1,200 people, including men. WGEF supported me, and many other women contesting for office, and I won as the Women Councilor Three. I head the Women and Children’s Affairs Committee.

“In my division, we have engaged all stakeholders and we have succeeded in passing a law that prohibits early child marriage. Now we are looking forward to implementing it. I believe this is a landmark achievement that many divisions will benchmark on. Now, I can talk about some of the unhealthy cultural norms in my community, and a lot is changing for justice and equity for all.”

— Christine Aryemo, Gulu