One year on: re-visiting Zara in Chad

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Zara’s story

Now the house is already built, we can stay comfortably, and everyone will have their share, and we will live safely.

From Sudan to Chad: a journey of resilience

In October 2024, during a ShelterBox deployment to Chad, the team was able to sit down with Zara and talk to her about her journey from Sudan to Chad. She explained the challenges that she has faced both in Sudan, and as she was beginning to build her new life in Chad.

During our most recent visit, the team was lucky enough to re-visit Zara, to see how she has settled into her new semi-durable shelter and understand how it has affected family life for her and her children.

Zara welcomed us with great joy and a huge smile on her face. She sat outside under a cover that connects to her new home, visibly delighted to be sitting with us once again to update us on how life has been.

A home built with hope

We asked Zara what the process of receiving the semi-durable shelter was like. She began by telling us how happy she was to have a new home built for her and reiterated the troubles they had faced before.

“Before they built the house for me, we were worried because our previous house wasn’t well built, and we were afraid when it was going to rain. We were also afraid of fire, and when we weren’t at home, the children would spoil the house’s things.”

“As soon as they told me that I would have a house, I was so happy. I didn’t imagine that I would have a house, but then they brought the materials, and they built the house for us.”

“I was so happy, I didn’t realise the house was mine. After they had finished, they brought cement again, and I asked them what they were going to do with it. They told me they were going to do the rendering on the outside. I was so happy, I hope my loved ones will have their own home too.”

A new sense of safety and stability

It was evident just how happy Zara was with her new home. To better understand how important it is to her, we asked what she most likes about it.

“Before, I thought I couldn’t stay at the camp because we were outside, and when it rained, we didn’t know where to hide.”

“Now the house is already built, we can stay comfortably, and everyone will have their share, and we will live safely.”

Choosing to stay, not just survive

When we last spoke to Zara, she spoke of wanting to return to Sudan. In her previous living conditions, she was unhappy and was waiting for the day when she could travel back. This visit was different; she seemed content with her home.

“No, we will stay here. I don’t want to go back to Sudan.

“Even the children are happy now, they’re under the shade doing the laundry.”

What a good home means

To finish the conversation, we asked Zara what a good home meant to her.

“A beautiful house is good because before, when I went out, goats would come into the room and destroy our things, children would steal, and fires would also ravage us, but now I can close the door and go out; I’m comfortable.”

“Thanks to the team (ShelterBox and Help-Tchad). When they informed us about building it, we didn’t believe it, but even after building the house, they were back for a follow-up.”

Constructing semi-durable shelters in Chad.
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Sudan update

During our visit to Chad, we witnessed lots of infrastructure being built to support the community, including schools, places of worship and income-generating activities. Reassuring us, that in due time, this community will become a strong, resilient and thriving one.

Every day, more people are leaving Sudan to seek safety in Chad. Sudan now has the biggest and fastest-growing displacement crisis in the world. It is also the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded.

14.6 million people displaced and 30.4 million people, more than half of Sudan’s population, now need humanitarian support.

We’re working with a local partner Help Tchad. Together, we’re providing shelter upgrades to existing temporary emergency shelters. Along with essential aid items to allow people to get back on their feet.

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