Yabu Annet was born in South Sudan, and now lives in the Imvepi refugee settlement in north-western Uganda. Fortunately, her adopted country has one of the world’s most progressive refugee policies. Yet, challenges persist — systemic inequalities continue to shape the lives of displaced families, trapping them in cycles of poverty that span generations. At the heart of the Imvepi refugee settlement, a programme is working to break this cycle through a two-generation approach, supporting both parents and their children to build stronger, more resilient futures together. This is Yabu Annet’s story.
“I arrived at the Imvepi refugee settlement in Uganda in 2017, with my three children in tow and my youngest strapped to my back. We left our home in South Sudan after weeks of deadly conflict.
I was one of the thousands of refugees fleeing through the borders with nothing but the clothes on our backs.
Back home in South Sudan where I was born, I grew up in a modest household by two hard working parents, both farmers. I hoped to become a nurse one day. That plan did not work out, unfortunately.
At Imvepi, things were not easy. Families here rely on grants and rations, with limited opportunities to make their own money. With no other family members to support me, I desperately needed a consistent source of income. More importantly, I wanted my children to feel and hold on to hope – that they still had a chance to see a better life.
In May 2023, I joined a programme where my children would get an education and I could gain skills to help build a steady income.
I started attending a series of sessions, which included lessons on financial literacy, the different business opportunities that I could explore, and how to run one. I also joined a savings group which I joined every week, and found women like myself, young and old, who had fled our homeland and carried deep trauma. I started building my own community, and I relied on them for strength and support through those difficult times.
Once I completed the series of training, I got the assets that were promised to me. Four goats and five ducks – assets to get my business started.
Since then, this family of mine has grown three fold. Now every morning, I wake up to the cackling of 13 goats, over 70 ducks, and 35 chickens outside my window! I would think of my parents who I grew up seeing tending to their farm so lovingly.
The savings group I joined played a big role in helping me grow my business. Besides just growing our savings, we would come together every week to pool our money, and could withdraw loans in cases of emergency or even as start-up capital.
I am currently serving as the secretary of our savings group, and it makes me happy to help others grow their livelihoods like I did.
My children’s education and wellbeing remained my top priority throughout my struggles. I tried my best to make sure they eat nutritious meals at school, and tried to prepare hearty meals at home every day.
I attend parenting workshops where I learn about good parenting, how to help grow my child’s cognitive and social abilities, how to take care of their emotional health and more.
I’ve also been creating playful, hands-on learning resources for my children. I often volunteer to keep these one-room spaces clean and tidy after a day’s session. I take great pride in contributing to making the play lab a welcoming place for children, where they can explore, play, and learn freely.
One of my greatest joys is watching my youngest son, five-year-old Emmanuel, thrive. He is in the top of his class at the Royal Humanitarian Play Lab, supported by BRAC, and I’m filled with joy seeing the progress he makes every day through play-based learning.
I want to open a grocery store and expand my farm if I have access to more land. I was recently selected and trained as an animal health champion. I support my community to take care of their livestock and promote healthy, sustainable practices. It’s a responsibility I carry with pride — a way to give back and help others find their footing, just as I found mine on this foreign land.“
Story collected and written by BRAC Uganda communications team, and edited by Nazifa Raidah and Syeda Tasnim Islam.
