How Action Against Hunger’s Nutritional Programs in South Sudan Changed the Life of a Single Mother
Aling’s Story
Aling and her husband lived in Mayom, Warap State in South Sudan, and they had five beautiful children —two boys and three girl. Tragically, one day, her husband was killed in a communal conflict. At the age of 32, Aling found herself alone, shouldering the responsibility of raising her children without any support. Life was increasingly hard for Aling and her family following her husband’s passing. Money was tight, and Aling struggled to keep enough food on the table for her family. The hardships multiplied when her youngest daughter fell gravely ill and became acutely malnourished. Desperate to save her daughter, Aling went to Action Against Hunger’s nutrition site for assistance.
Aling, a widowed mother of five.
A New Beginning
Action Against Hunger enrolled Aling’s daughter in a comprehensive nutrition program. In a matter of weeks, she was back to full nutritional health. To Aling’s immense relief, her daughter’s lively spirit had returned.
While her daughter was undergoing treatment, Aling was introduced to vegetable gardening as a means to diversify her family’s diet and enhance their overall well-being. Action Against Hunger supported her with training and tools to start gardening. Over time, Aling saw a revolutionary change in her children’s quality of life with the increased nutrition in their diet.
Amazed by the impact on her family, she became passionate about sharing her newfound nutritional knowledge and gardening skills with others. It became her mission to educate fellow mothers in Mayom. Now, several other women have thriving gardens and are able to improve their families’ diet as well. They have been able to grow enough to sell surplus vegetables for profit.
Aling made it her mission to show other mother’s how impactful a garden can be on their lives.
With the support of Action Against Hunger, the women were able to establish a Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA). A VSLA is a powerful way for community members to extrapolate the financial benefits they gain from gardens by offering a safe place for them to manage their money. CARE describes a VSLA as a group of members who meet regularly and create a group fund, so they can take small loans as needed and build insurance against emergencies. For example, if a drought wipes out their crops — which would typically devastate the families’ nutritional and financial wellbeing — the VSLA savings fund can be used to buy new seeds or other materials to restart the garden. They are also able to use the funds to invest in scaling-up farms with better equipment or other tools. This resource is a sustainable way for members to manage their finances and safeguard the wellbeing of their income and diet.
Aling’s VSLA has become so successful it can also make loans to the surrounding community and local NGOs, supporting the development of the growth of the local economy. The VSLA is a self-sustaining funding mechanism that reduces the need for additional external aid. It safeguards the women against unexpected challenges, and they obtained greater agency for financial decision-making than ever before.
Members of Aling’s VSLA group.
Through hard work and dedication, Aling was able to move from kitchen gardening to large-scale farming, now supplying local markets with her produce. She is able to maintain her family’s nutritional wellbeing and rest in the knowledge that she has a steady income with the financial safety net of VSLA membership. Wanting to lift up the women around her, Aling has been an enthusiastic advocate for nutrition and gardening. Against Hunger’s program with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office gave her initial support, and Aling has amplified that support into an incredible ripple effect that is still shaping the community around her. “I no longer feel like a widow struggling to provide for my family,” Aling said, her confidence radiating.
Aling’s evolution into a self-sufficient woman is a testament to her resilience in face of tragedy and hardship. To her community, she has become a beacon of hope and inspiration for others facing similar challenges. Her story serves as a testament to the boundless possibilities that arise when individuals and organizations come together to create positive change. .
Hunger in South Sudan
Unfortunately, Aling is one of many people in South Sudan who have suffered from hunger due to conflict. The United Nations reports that nearly 7.7 million people in the country are facing severe food insecurity. This is largely driven by the escalating conflict in Sudan, which has sent 1.1 million people flooding over the border into South Sudan, which was had already strained resources. Now, meeting the needs of the population is a task that exceeds the current supply of resources.
To make matters worse, displaced people are dealing with insecurity and poverty have also been impacted by disease outbreaks. South Sudan. Cholera, a deadly disease that is closely linked to dehydration and malnutrition, has been rampant since October 2024 and is only worsening. At the end of April 2025, UNICEF recorded over 54,600 cases, including 1,059 deaths, across 47 counties.
Action Against Hunger is actively working on improving nutrition and health, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) with our programs in South Sudan to combat hunger and disease. We aim to improve food security and livelihoods (FSL) with long term solutions like the VSLA group in Mayom. Aling’s journey exemplifies the kinds of transformations that can happen when people impacted by conflict, disease, and hunger have access to resources; she now has the agency to uplift her family’s health, manage her finances, and act as a catalyst for change in her community.
