Sudan (Darfur)
Helping the Internally Displaced and Refugees of Darfur, Sudan
Since 2003, a violent civil conflict has led to countless deaths and widespread displacement, interrupting education for thousands of children. It's estimated that 2.5 million to 3.5 million people have been displaced and 4 million people are heavily dependent on humanitarian aid. More than 1 million of those forced from their homes are children under the age of 18.
Refugees to Chad: Over 230,000 Sudanese refugees are being hosted in 12 refugee camps in the eastern part of Chad. More than 100,000 are school-aged children. Although UNHCR and its partners working in the field have established 80 schools in these camps, the UN agency estimates that at least 15,000 primary school-aged children living here are not in school and there is a lack of qualified teachers.
Internally Displaced Children: Within Sudan, the situation is just as bad. Only one out of every 100 girls in southern Sudan will likely complete primary school. Just about half of all school-age children living in camps attend school. No camp has a secondary school. Even when education exists, many camps lack the funding to provide what's needed. Schools lack basic supplies, including desks, chairs, and textbooks. Temporary school buildings constructed in camps can't withstand the region's weather conditions, creating unsafe environments for children. Looking for other opportunities, some children leave the camps and return to bordering areas in Sudan, placing them at risk for exploitation and military recruitment.
Read about what our partners are doing:
The Darfur Dream Team is a dynamic partnership of NBA players and organizations working together on the Sister Schools Program, an initiative to connect American middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities with sister schools in the 12 Darfuri refugee camps in Chad.
In the eastern Chad camps, UNHCR programmes provide everything from family shelters to latrines, clinics, schools, wells and other vital infrastructure for those fleeing the violence in Sudan's Darfur region. But it is an enormous logistical challenge getting items such as tents, blankets, plastic sheeting and soap to the refugees in the landlocked country. The ninemillion.org campaign was created in 2006 by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in partnership with Nike and Microsoft. The goal of the campaign is to give more than nine million children better access to education, sport and technology by 2010.
The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation
The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation aims to help rebuild war-affected southern Sudanese communities by increasing access to education. As the region recovers and rebuilds, it is Valentino's dream to create educational opportunities throughout southern Sudan. He is starting in his hometown of Marial Bai, where he is building an educational center, which will include a secondary school, a library (the first-ever in the region), a women's education center, and a youth activity center, where adolescent boys and girls can acquire leadership training and conflict resolution skills and participate in sports and craft activities.
Population Council & Women's Commission for Refugee Women & Children
The Population Council, in collaboration with the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, has launched a two-year research and advocacy project to identify how education may or may not improve the well-being and protection of displaced children and youth. The project seeks to focus on the current circumstances and educational opportunities for 10-14 year old boys and girls living in the IDP camps in Darfur.
Norwegian Refugee Council
NRC has been active in Sudan since 2004, providing protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees. The primary goal of the Education Programme is to respond rapidly to education needs by facilitating access to basic education and training, promoting education as a protection tool, and providing training in conflict management, human rights, reconciliation, and peace building. NRC has committed to expanding its educational services for displaced and returning Sudanese children and youth. After the peace agreement was signed in 2005, the citizens of Ceui Chok and NRC began rebuilding. A lack of skilled labor impelled NRC's Sudanese deputy project manager to recruit ten young unskilled men and women to be construction apprentices. This construction corps was instrumental in constructing the new Cuei Chok Primary School, which now serves almost 900 students who previously had shared two dilapidated classrooms.
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Catholic Relief Services
Education for Conflict-affected populations in West Darfur, Sudan: This project targets primary schools serving IDP children and conflict-affected host communities through the construction of classrooms and provision of teacher training, school materials, and water and sanitation facilities.
GTZ
The "Expanding Education Support Program (ESP)" in southern Sudan, provides formal and non-formal education component as well as capacity development at all levels of intervention.
