A photo of Participants watching the facilitator mix ingredients for the production of high-quality liquid soap
“With this knowledge and skills i gained, I am no longer waiting. I can do something to sustain my family,” says 45-year-old Lillian Elisapana, proudly holding up the tablecloths she recently sold for 400,000 SSP.
For years, the single mother, depended on her small farm to feed her family and earn an income. But when insecurity swept through her community, she lost everything. Struggling to provide for her children, she felt her life had stalled.
Everything changed on 7 July 2025, when Lillian joined dozens of women at EVE Organization’s Women Empowerment Center in Mundri West for a training supported by UNICEF. The program focused on equipping women will practical skills in liquid soap production and knitting household items such as bed sheets and tablecloths to generate income, foster resilience, and promote economic independence.
Under the guidance of experienced trainers, participants learned to produce and market high-quality liquid soapand practiced knitting household items, combining traditional and modern techniques for sale.
For Lillian, who already knew how to knit but lacked materials, the training was a turning point. She knitted two sets of tablecloths, selling them for 400,000 SSP. With her profits, she plans to purchase more soap-making chemicals and fabrics to continue knitting, turning her small gain into a growing business.
“I knew how to knit before, but I lacked the materials to work with,” Lillian explains. “The training gave me the right tools to turn my skills into a livelihood.”
Women learning to knit bed sheets and tablecloths during EVE training
Not content with her own success, Lillian has begun training other women in her community, sharing the skills and confidence she has gained. Her story demonstrates how empowering one woman can ripple out to empower many others.
“Before EVE’s initiative, I had nothing to generate money. Life was hard with many struggles,” she says. “Now I can do something for myself, and I’m also teaching other women what I have learned so they can be productive and support their families.”
Women display the liquid soap they produced during the EVE training in Mundri West.
The training has not only improved individual livelihoods but also energized local markets. Women are producing and selling soap, tablecloths, and bed sheets, reinvesting their profits to sustain production and even launch other small businesses.
This initiative is part of EVE Organization for Women Development’s mission to advance women’s rights, leadership, and economic empowerment. EVE ensures that women are not left behind but are equipped with tools to drive change in their communities.
Lillian’s journey is a testament to what happens when women are given opportunities to thrive. With practical skills, determination, and community support, women like her are building pathways out of hardship, creating sustainable livelihoods, and inspiring the next generation.
Her story is not just about one woman’s resilience; it is about the strength of women across South Sudan, who, with the right support, are transforming their struggles into strength and hope for the future.
