By Yiep Joseph
In an effort to boost small-scale businesses and foster economic independence, Active Citizen South Sudan (ACSS) has distributed start-up kits to local entrepreneurs and traders in Mangateen IDP and the Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Juba.
Under the theme “Promoting Micro-business for Sustainable Development,” the initiative supported by LM International South Sudan saw at least 40 local entrepreneurs receive essential goods needed to kickstart or revive their micro-businesses.
The kits included vital commodities such as bags of onions, jerrycans of cooking oil, bundles of dry fish, sacks of maize flour, bags of sugar, chairs and groundnut paste. These are not just random items, but products selected to match the business needs of the beneficiaries primarily women and youth – who sell foodstuffs and groceries within the community.
Speaking during the distribution, Nyankuol Wicjiak, Project Officer at ACSS, underscored the organization’s mission to invest in people, especially displaced populations, through sustainable livelihood programs and capacity-building.
“When you invest in a woman’s business, you are investing in the survival of an entire family. So, our goal is not just to distribute items, but to spark sustainable change—one business at a time and growth among our people” she said.
The initiative is part of ACSS’s broader effort to economically empower marginalized groups, particularly women and young people, by not only giving them materials but also equipping them with entrepreneurial skills.
For years, ACSS has focused on resilience-building for displaced populations across South Sudan, and this recent intervention reflects their continued commitment to grassroots development.
Among the beneficiaries was Elizabeth Nyalith, a 60-year-old widow who runs a small retail shop in Mangateen.
With tears of joy, she welcomed the donation as a lifeline.
“It means ACSS is lifting up our local businesses,” she said. “These items will help me restock my shop. I am a mother with children to care for, and no one else supports them. This support means survival,” Nyalith stated.
For her part, Aliza Nyagau Pouch, a woman in her early 40s, echoed similar sentiments as she highlighted how the distributed items aligned perfectly with her business needs.
“These are things I normally buy for my business, so receiving them means a lot. They are boosting my income,” she explained.
“I am also grateful for the business training. Now I know how best to sustain and grow my shop,” Nyagau concludes
The support extended beyond goods. The beneficiaries underwent practical sessions in business management, customer care, and savings, aimed at making the support sustainable.
Both ACSS and LM International hope to see lasting change as local entrepreneurs apply the knowledge and resources to rebuild their businesses and their lives.
Through the initiative, they also hope to move beyond short-term aid to long-lasting transformation, especially for people trapped in displacement with limited access to economic opportunities.
“This is more than charity. It is empowerment. It is giving someone the tools to shape their own destiny,” said Mr. Joseph Mayen, a livelihood consultant in Juba.
The women who benefited now express renewed hope in growing their businesses and supporting their families with dignity.
In areas like Mangateen and the PoC site where poverty, displacement, and unemployment intersect—such small business support can mean the difference between dependency and self-reliance.
As South Sudan continues to navigate the challenges of recovery and development, grassroots initiatives like this one signal a vital shift: one where community-based empowerment becomes central to national progress.