Stories
July 3, 2026 • 1 min read
Katimala Ilara Kamilo fled Sudan with her nine children in 2023, arriving in South Sudan with no income and no clear path forward. After settling in Payuer Boma, she joined the Muhaba Women Group part of GOAL's UKAID-funded THRIVE project where she accessed savings and loan training through a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA). With a loan of 100,000 South Sudanese Pounds, she started selling snacks and tea, eventually growing that into a small restaurant. She has since enrolled three of her children in school and established a stable income for her family.
Arriving with Nothing
When conflict swept through Sudan in 2023, Katimala Ilara Kamilo left with her nine children and almost nothing else. She made her way to South Sudan and eventually settled in Payuer Boma, where an old friend offered her a place to stay.
The early months were hard. With no income and no assets, Katimala and her children often ate wild fruits to get through the day.
“As a single mother with nine children, I did not know how we would survive,” she recalls. “We had no income and often relied on wild fruits to feed ourselves.”
A Group, a Loan, and a Plan
Katimala’s situation began to shift when she joined the Muhaba Women Group, supported by GOAL through the UKAID-funded THRIVE project. Through the group’s VSLA, she received training in saving, borrowing, and running small business skills she had never formally learned before.
She started putting aside money from occasional casual labour. After several weeks of consistent saving, she accessed a loan of 100,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP). She used it to start selling snacks and tea.
Her first venture returned 135,000 SSP. She reinvested, kept saving, and steadily built from there.
What Comes Next
Today, Katimala runs a small restaurant. It is her primary source of income, and it is growing. She now buys supplies in bulk a sign of both financial confidence and forward planning.
Three of her nine children are enrolled in school. That, she says, is what matters most.
“My life has changed completely,” she says. “I can now provide for my children and plan for their future.”
She credits the people around her and the programme for helping to make it possible.
“I thank God, GOAL, and its supporters for helping women like me rebuild our lives with dignity,” she says.
