A breath of fresh air
Naima, who has two daughters, arrived in Zabout Camp after fleeing violence in Darfur, west Sudan. ‘When our village was attacked, desolation fell on me,’ she shares. ‘I took my mother on the donkey and my daughters to flee to Chad, and we reached the border in the dead of night.’ Tragically, Naima’s mother was exhausted and passed away shortly after their arrival. Yet, Naima’s determination to survive and care for her daughters has never wavered.
Life in the camp has been difficult, with limited shelter and resources. ‘When we arrived, we had nothing but our lives and our donkey,’ Naima says. ‘Since then, we’ve been living on food aid, but we also work as day labourers to earn a bit of money.’
However, thanks to Tearfund partners and Scottish Government funding, Naima’s family has received cash assistance to help them get back on their feet. This support has been a breath of fresh air. ‘With this money, we can start a small spice business, which will help us become financially independent,’ Naima says. ‘This will enable us to meet our small daily needs. We pray that God will bless Tearfund and those who allow it to help us in our time of need.’
Building resilience amid crisis
The funds provided by the Scottish Government have been life-changing for over 2,701 families. Cash assistance has enabled refugee households in Zabout Camp to meet basic needs such as food and shelter, as well as invest in small businesses, laying the foundations for long-term stability in their lives.
Seid Zebe, Tearfund’s Country Director for Chad, explains: ‘The support from the Scottish Government has allowed us to reach families like Naima’s who have lost everything. The need is urgent as thousands of women and children seeking refuge in Zabout Camp face severe hunger and trauma. This funding not only meets immediate needs but also helps refugees start businesses, regain their dignity, and look toward the future with hope.’
But the impact extends beyond material support. Tearfund partners are also addressing the critical need for social cohesion and gender equality within the camp. For many refugees, the trauma of violence is compounded by sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and social tensions. Tearfund’s work includes training male and female gender champions, who are spreading vital messages about peaceful coexistence and the importance of respecting women’s rights.
‘This important training tells us the truth, protecting us from harming each other and helping us live peacefully,’ said Mallam Usman, one of the leaders at the camp. ‘If every family and the heads of households gathered here today abides to the principles, gender-based violence will be reduced and there will be peace in the homes and the entire community of Zabout.’
Community dialogues and the provision of safe spaces have been a significant part of Tearfund’s efforts to promote healing and restore dignity to survivors of violence, especially women and girls.
