Dear Friend,
June 20 is World Refugee Day, a time to remember the millions of people who have been forced to flee their homes because of war, violence, and disaster.
This day is especially meaningful for Five Talents, as many of the countries where we work — Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Uganda — are deeply affected by the challenges of forced displacement.
According to the United Nations, the ongoing war in Sudan has become the world's largest displacement crisis. As of June 2026, nearly 1.3 million people have crossed into South Sudan, including approximately 887,000 South Sudanese returnees and 447,000 Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers. Despite its own challenges, South Sudan has continued to keep its borders open to those fleeing violence and seeking safety.
This influx comes on top of an already difficult reality: nearly two million people remain internally displaced within South Sudan, while communities face recurring floods, drought, food insecurity, and local conflict over land and resources. Yet even amid such hardship, stories of resilience, courage, and hope continue to emerge.
One story that we shared previously, about a brave woman named Zola, is worth retelling. Zola's life in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, was upended when war erupted in April 2023.
"We lived near the military center where war broke out. I was shot. My family put me on a chair on a donkey and we fled to South Sudan through the western border."
The journey to safety came at an unimaginable cost. A month later, Zola learned that both her husband and her youngest sister had been killed. It was during this dark time that she met her local Savings Group.
"I was traumatized. The group came and spoke to me and gave me a loan of 10,000 SSP ($77) even though I was not a member. My old house was still here, but they bought grass so I could rethatch it."
Through the support of her group, Zola found more than financial assistance. She found a community that helped her begin again.
"I joined the group and took [out] a loan to start a groundnut business. In Sudan I had a restaurant, and it is my dream to revive it here. I have one son still in Sudan. The other children are here with me. The group's encouragement and support has kept me going. They talk to me when I am lonely and depressed. It's not just about the money. God is here."
Zola's story reminds us that lasting change comes not only through emergency relief, but also through loving our neighbor by creating opportunities for people to heal and re-build.
This World Refugee Day, we have been given a remarkable opportunity to extend that hope even further. Two generous supporters have made a $75,000 Challenge Gift to encourage an outpouring of support for our program in South Sudan. We have until June 30 to raise $75,000 to meet this challenge and help women like Zola build resilience through Savings Groups, small businesses, and community support.
Your gift today can provide more than a loan. It can help restore livelihoods and bring about renewal of body and spirit. Will you help us meet this challenge and double your impact for families seeking hope in the midst of displacement?
