Her husband, who was a soldier, was killed in the war. As conflict descended upon their community, they had few options. They decided to make the long journey on foot to Bidibidi, a refugee settlement in northern Uganda. It has been two years since they first arrived.
As an HIV-positive single mother raising four children, Jane has faced many challenges. When they first arrived in Bidibidi, they shared a communal latrine with about twenty others. However, she said, “Sometimes if people did not feel happy with us they would lock us out of it.” On top of having irregular access to a latrine, Jane and her children did not have a roof over their heads. They slept in a tent that would leak every time it rained. Because of this, Jane found herself often bringing her children to the health centre, concerned for their wellbeing.
World Renew’s local partner, Here is Life, met Jane and realized the difficult situation she was living in. Through the support of Here is Life, Jane now lives in a proper house and has access to her own latrine. “It has made a big difference,” she shared.
Today, Jane and her children are in a much better situation. It’s not without challenges – Jane still doesn’t have enough money to send all her children to school – but they are healthier and far better off today because of the generosity of World Renew supporters that make this work possible
This summer, World Renew held a campaign to raise money to construct latrines for others, just like Jane. With thousands of families in Bidibidi lacking reliable access to a proper latrine, World Renew is working hard to be part of the solution. A latrine can protect families, provide dignity, and eradicate diseases.
Over the duration of this campaign, individuals, families, churches and businesses across North America donated $78,705 – enough to build 315 latrines for families in need! Thank you for your incredible generosity through this campaign.
“We’ve seen some great results in reduction in the dysentery levels and we’ve noticed that the level of hygiene in the society is high with no open defecation and there has been no cholera even during the wet season,” shared Joseph Mutebi, World Renew’s Program Consultant in northern Uganda. “The level of pit latrine coverage has gone up from 30% to 40%. However, that means there is still a big gap to reach out to individual households.”
We are thankful for what has already been accomplished but we know that for those living in Bidibidi, life is still filled with uncertainty. Many still have family members back in South Sudan. They don’t know how much longer the war will continue but want to return to their country when it is safe to do so. Yet as they live in Bidibidi, reliable employment is hard to come by, and many families are still without a latrine.
In the midst of this uncertainty, we are thankful that we can hold firm in faith that God has not forgotten about this situation. Despite the loss and suffering that many South Sudanese families have experienced, there is hope. In light of this hope, we ask that you continue to pray for the South Sudanese people living as refugees in Uganda, that they would be comforted by the love of our Father in Heaven.
Caring for children, earning income, making their way often without education or skills or support – many women around the world face significant burdens every day. Disaster amplifies these challenges and leaves women and girls at even greater risk. Please support girls and women in disaster by donating on November 27, this Giving Tuesday