South Sudanese Refugees Find Hope and Self-Reliance Through Entrepreneurship and Farming in Uganda

Inside the tin walls of a small, smoke-filled kiosk, Joseph Deng Chol and his wife dish up beans and flatbreads, grateful for the resources that now fuel their own business. Chol, a South Sudanese refugee, opened his food stall in August 2020 after completing a training course sponsored by Finn Church Aid, a nonprofit supported by UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency.

Chol, like many of the 125,000 displaced people in the Palorinya Refugee Settlement in northern Uganda, fled South Sudan’s brutal civil war. Now, his business has become a lifeline. “With the profits, I can provide for my family, pay for my children’s education, and even save for emergencies,” said Chol, 38, who escaped to Uganda in 2018 after rebels attacked his village.

In nearby Palabek Refugee Settlement, women refugees are also finding ways to support their families, making chip stones for construction to earn a living. Thanks to training programs, they are learning skills that make them self-reliant in an environment where access to education, employment, and healthcare remains scarce.

Uganda, which hosts the largest number of refugees in Africa and the third largest globally, has welcomed over 1.6 million refugees, mostly from South Sudan. Despite the challenges, local and international organizations are stepping in to offer solutions.

One such organization, the Salesians of Don Bosco, has built schools and vocational training centers in Palabek. Their farming program provides refugees with resources to cultivate small gardens, helping families grow their own food and generate income. “We are implementing these projects to improve the livelihoods of refugees so they are not solely reliant on donations,” said Rev. Lazar Arasu, director of Don Bosco Palabek Refugee Services.

Finn Church Aid also offers extensive support, including training in hairdressing, carpentry, and tailoring, empowering refugees to start businesses and gain financial independence. For younger refugees, scholarships open doors to further education and job opportunities.

Thanks to these initiatives, thousands of refugees in northern Uganda are now living independently, building a future where self-reliance replaces dependency.