These Mothers Are Building Homes in Refugee Camps

Displaced by war and conflict, South Sudanese women are constructing houses that provide more than just shelter.

When the contractions set in, Mary Nakany weighed her options. She could walk to the closest maternity ward, where a midwife and medicines awaited, but the trek would take at least 45 minutes—without stopping for the pain of contractions. If she didn’t make it in time, she’d be giving birth along the way. The privacy and safety of her own home, a round, traditional house with dirt floor she had built just months earlier, seemed a better choice.

In South Sudanese culture, women are to give birth in silence, so Mary didn’t even whimper. The first sound that pierced the night was the cry of her baby, a girl she would later name Monday Kadong, after the day she was born.

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Read This Next

Did this mysterious human relative bury its dead?
This new birth control for cats doesn't require surgery
How the Zoot Suit Riots changed America

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet