“I don’t know, what, who killed him. My idea was that it was thief because everything inside was busted. And then I decided to run. I didn’t even put my sandals on.” 

A neighbor helped Lina onto a bus heading for Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Uganda. She has lived there alone since August. 

Almost 900,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge in Uganda since December 2013. Fifty-nine per cent are children. Many of them, like Lina, are alone. 

Almost 900,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge in Uganda since December 2013

“The life is too difficult. Because I am the only person. If it could be two I could endure, but I am alone. I want to study but when I think of the past it confuses me.” 

Lina was immediately drawn to Sandra Chevrier’s work and used the same technique to create a self-portrait. 

To begin with, a close-up photograph was taken of Lina’s face and projected onto a wall where an outline was drawn. She then worked under the guidance of Apartial to paint female superheroes over the top. 

“I like the picture so much. That's why I wanted to shade it by myself. Working on it I was feeling so joyful. I couldn’t think of the past.” 

Working on it I was feeling so joyful. I couldn’t think of the past.

Lina dreams of being reunited with her only living relative – her brother Judith who now lives somewhere in the United States. 

“He was very clever in school. He got a scholarship in Kampala. He was passing well so an American woman sponsored him. I lost his phone number and email address when I was coming.” 

How You Can Help

• Donate: Your support will make a difference. Please help the refugees of South Sudan
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