From Darfur (Sudan) to Kakuma (Kenya)
Khaltom Abdalla’s Journey of Resilience and Rebirth through Blossoms of Hope
“In the ashes of war, seeds of hope can still grow.” These words echo powerfully through the life of Khaltom Abdalla Abakar, a co-founder of the Blossoms of Hope Initiative, a grassroots movement igniting change for refugee women in Kakuma, Kenya.
Khaltom’s story begins in Fanganta, a quiet village nestled in the fertile lands of West Darfur, Sudan. Her family thrived in this rural haven. Her mother, a trailblazing entrepreneur, ran multiple farms and granaries full of sorghum and groundnuts. Her father, known to many as Gorombo, was a respected village leader upholding traditions and caring for their people with pride.
But peace was not to last.
Between 2003 and 2005, as Sudan descended into the horrors of the Darfur genocide, everything Khaltom had known was shattered. The Janjaweed militias, unleashed during a brutal government campaign, swept through villages like hers, burning homes, displacing families, and inflicting unimaginable violence on women and children. Her family’s land was destroyed, and they were forced to flee the only life they had ever known.
What followed was a long and perilous journey from Darfur to survival and, eventually, to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Like so many others, Khaltom arrived with nothing but pain in her heart and hope in her eyes.
But Kakuma wasn’t just a shelter; it became a place of purpose.
In the heart of this refugee camp, Khaltom co-founded the Blossoms of Hope Initiative alongside other brave women like Manahil Yaghop Musa. Together, they transformed their shared struggles into a collective mission to empower refugee women through education, entrepreneurship, and healing spaces.
Today, Blossoms of Hope is not just a name; it is a movement.
Khaltom’s leadership and courage were recently spotlighted by Prime Progress and celebrated in their #PrimeWoman series on LinkedIn. Her recognition as a changemaker among many refugee women is a testament to her unwavering resilience and determination.
From the ruins of war, Khaltom has helped plant something beautiful: a space where refugee women rise, heal, and lead.