Mission
New Life Family Alliance's mission is to support the well-being and growth of Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees, immigrants, and their families through information sharing, community outreach, and support services so they can rebuild their lives and become healthy, confident, and productive citizens.
South Sudanese Community in Omaha
Omaha is home to the largest South Sudanese community outside of South Sudan and in the United States. The roots of this migration trace back to the civil war that began in 1983 when South Sudan was still part of Sudan, a nation divided between Black Christians in the South and Arab Muslims in the North. Following Sudan's independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956, tensions over political rights, economic resources, and religious freedoms fueled conflict between the northern and southern regions. Though a peace agreement was reached in 1972, discrimination against South Sudanese continued, leading to the rise of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) in the mid-1980s. Decades of violence have caused many South Sudanese to flee to neighboring countries and beyond, including Ethiopia, Egypt, Uganda, Kenya, and even the United States. In addition to the broader conflict, tribal divisions among South Sudan’s 64 tribes, each with its own language, have further complicated the path to peace.
Experience of South Sudanese in the United States
Although the South Sudanese community has found refuge in the United States, the tribal conflicts that once divided them in their homeland still affect their lives today. Many individuals, especially those with family ties still in South Sudan, continue to hear about the ongoing violence, which shapes how they live and interact in the U.S. However, this division is more pronounced among adults who lived through these conflicts in Africa. In contrast, younger generations, born or raised in the U.S. from a young age, do not experience the same level of discord or tribal schisms.
Challenges of Being in the US
Youth and Families
A significant disconnect often exists between South Sudanese parents and their children in the U.S. Many parents work long hours in manufacturing, meatpacking, or other shift-based jobs, often during the second shift, leaving their children unsupervised after school.
These demanding work schedules and family obligations also prevent parents from pursuing educational opportunities, including learning English. Meanwhile, children learn English in school and adapt to U.S. culture, but with limited family interactions, they may not speak their family’s native language. As a result, children are often expected to care for themselves after school, receiving little to no help with homework.
This cultural and linguistic gap leads to misunderstandings between parents and children, who struggle to connect with one another. Without proper guidance at home, some youth may turn to peers for support, which can lead to involvement with gangs and unsafe behaviors. This lack of support during their formative years increases the likelihood of these children encountering the justice system, a system that their parents are often unfamiliar with and ill-equipped to navigate.
Families experience additional challenges, including:
Employment: Language and technology literacy barriers make it difficult for adults to find better-paying jobs, roles that accommodate family obligations, or opportunities for growth and advancement.
Housing: Newly resettled refugees are often placed in unsanitary or uninhabitable homes and apartments.
Food: Parents often know how to prepare traditional Sudanese dishes, but children adapt to American cuisine. To avoid conflict and ensure their kids are fed, many parents opt for fast food.
Health: Limited access to and knowledge of healthcare services leads to high rates of preventable chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Mental health issues, domestic abuse, substance abuse, and poor dental care also affect the community.
Access to benefits and services: While eligible for public benefits like Social Security, food stamps, and Medicaid/Medicare, many refugees do not know how to access them. This also applies to free or low-cost services from local nonprofits, including legal support, food assistance, and childcare.
Because of these challenges, NLFA has identified and formed two program areas: the youth services and basic services and family support program to better serve Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees and immigrants. NLFA is the best organization to take on this work because they understand the cultural differences. The staff members are also multilingual and represent the various tribes of the South Sudanese community.
NLFA acts as an intermediary organization between the Sudanese and South Sudanese communities and different agencies and organizations. By understanding the cultural dynamics and speaking various languages, NLFA helps explain to clients how systems work while educating the receiving community about these communities’ needs.