“Rebuilding life through resilience” — Tagwa’s story, Gedaref State, Sudan

When Tagwa, a 38-year-old mother of three, fled conflict and instability in Blue Nile State, she carried with her little more than hope for safety. She and her family settled in Village 5, an area in Gedaref State that now hosts thousands of displaced people from across Sudan. 

Life as an internally displaced person was far from easy. “When we arrived, we had nothing,” Tagwa recalls. “We lived under trees and shared what little food we could find.” The lack of shelter, income, and access to basic services made each day a struggle for survival. 

Everything began to change when the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), with support from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), started implementing protection and livelihood activities in the area. Through community outreach, Tagwa was identified by DRC’s protection team as a vulnerable woman at risk of exploitation and was enrolled in a skills training and cash assistance programme. 

“I attended the training on small business management,” she explains. “Afterwards, DRC provided me with financial assistance to start my own small business.” Tagwa began selling food items and gradually expanded her small stall, becoming one of the main breadwinners in her neighborhood. 

The change was not only financial but emotional. Through the psychosocial support sessions provided by DRC, she found space to share her story and rebuild confidence. “The sessions helped me regain strength,” she says. “Now I can face life with a clear mind and provide for my children.” 

DRC’s integrated approach—combining protection, psychosocial support, and livelihood assistance—has helped many women like Tagwa rebuild stability and self-reliance amid crisis. 

“I now dream of expanding my business and helping other women who are struggling like I once did,” she says with a smile. “Thanks to the support I received, I feel that my life has meaning again.”