Displaced Sudanese children begin to receive education in Chad camp

Since April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has killed more than 20,000 people and injured over 33,000, according to the United Nations.

In one such camp, a group of young Sudanese volunteers has stepped in to ensure children don’t lose access to education. “The initiative, honestly, was launched through the efforts of young people. There is no supporting entity, no organisations or bodies backing it,” said Jamal Ahmed, a volunteer. “The youth collect contributions, identify what’s lacking, and provide it to the school. We submitted aid requests to several organisations and initiatives, but the response was that this camp is just a temporary stop and there’s no mandate to support education. That’s why we rely entirely on our own efforts, especially the children’s parents, who are the main pillar of this initiative,” he told Viory.

Despite these challenges, the initiative has managed to provide classes for children from kindergarten to sixth grade. A teacher at the camp explained the hurdles they still face, “Through the initiative, we’ve been able to provide education for children from kindergarten up to sixth grade. But we still lack so much, some children study out in the open with no mats, no school supplies, and no toys. We're grateful to anyone who offers support, and all thanks go to our brothers and sisters in the 'Our Hands for the Country' initiative,” he said.

Around 13 million people have been displaced, including 3.8 million who have fled to neighboring countries.