My name is Sana. I was born in January 2001 in Deri, Sudan. My life has been shaped by war, loss, and deep personal struggle—but also by healing, resilience, and purpose.
Today, I am a mother, a wife, and a Relief International community health volunteer. The path here was not easy, but it is one I share so others may understand what support and compassion can truly change.
Fleeing home, carrying loss
A survivor of war and displacement, Sana is now a trusted member of her community, serving others.
I was only ten years old when war forced my family to flee our home in Sudan. We were ten children from one mother, running on foot as bombardments echoed behind us. There were no vehicles, no medicine, and no water.
My father carried two children, and I carried a small child in my arms. Along the way, I saw elderly people and others collapse from exhaustion, and the pain of being unable to help them still lives with me. During that war, I lost my grandmother, a loss that left a wound in my heart that has never fully healed.
After walking for nearly a month, we reached Foj. For seven days, we survived without food until humanitarian organizations arrived. From there, we were moved to Jamam and finally to Batil camp in Maban, South Sudan.
For the first time, the bitterness of our journey began to fade. We had water, soap, security, and something we never had before—education. In Sudan, we only raised livestock and had no access to school. In South Sudan, humanitarian support gave us the chance to learn and to hope.
A hidden struggle with mental health
Under pressure for early marriage, Sana faced a quiet battle that deeply affected her mental health.
As I grew older, a different battle began, this time within my own family. Cultural pressure for early marriage caused me immense stress. I was preparing for my Basic Certificate exams and was not ready to marry. The pressure became unbearable, and my mental health collapsed. For three years, I suffered severe psychological distress. I was overthinking constantly, unable to live peacefully with my family, and felt completely lost.
A young man named Musa noticed my suffering and encouraged me to seek help at the hospital. That decision changed my life. There, I met Scovia, a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer with Relief International. What followed was a three-year journey of consistent treatment and care.
Through the support of Relief International’s medical team, I learned how to manage my anger, nourish my body properly, and challenge harmful beliefs that discouraged sick people from eating certain foods. This care saved my life. Without it, I would not be alive today nor would I have been strong enough to marry or raise children.
Healing that became purpose
Sana engages with community members.
Today, I am 26 years old and have been happily married to my husband, Osman, for six years. We have three beautiful children. Throughout all my pregnancies, I remained under medical care to ensure my children were born healthy. My husband runs a small shop from our home, and because we both received an education, our children are now in school and kindergarten.
My recovery was so complete that, since 2023, I have been working with Relief International as a Community Health and Nutrition Volunteer. I use my own story to help others, bringing sick children from the community to the hospital and encouraging families to seek care. The community trusts me because they saw me when I was unwell, and they see me now, healthy, committed, and serving with respect.
Dire need in South Sudan persists
I am deeply grateful to the doctors and the team at Relief International who provided the care and medicine that saved my life. But the need in Maban remains immense. The number of patients is very high, and while the doctors are dedicated, there are not enough of them to reach everyone who needs help, especially those suffering from mental health conditions.
I want all families to experience the recovery I was given. I went from a girl fleeing war to a woman helping her community heal.
I hope to do even more in my humanitarian mission, and I thank the supporters and donors who made my recovery and my new life possible.
