KarunaNews Story

For Zahra Adam Khamis, a refugee from Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region and founder of The Safe Space for Women and Girls, a grove of young neem trees in Adré refugee camp in eastern Chad represent a vision for healing for the land and its people. When Zahra crossed the border into Chad, she joined tens of thousands of other refugees seeking safety in Adré and resolved to rebuild the fragile environment left in ruins by the conflict. The initiative has planted more than 300 neem trees around the camp. Women are trained to use neem seeds and wood to craft handbags and jewelry, taught sustainable practices, such as planting a tree for every one they cut down, and are encouraged to use energy-efficient cooking methods. “When women see what they can achieve, they realize they are not just refugees — they are changemakers,” Zahra says.