A School Bag Full of Hope for Young Learners in Sudan
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Loading... - MUSA KHALIF
- 18 Nov 2024
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In the midst of conflict and displacement, education remains a beacon of hope for children in Sudan. UNICEF is stepping up to provide urgently needed school supplies to help children affected by violence, like 9-year-old Wisam, regain a sense of normalcy and continue their learning journey.
When fighting erupted in Sennar, a region in southeastern Sudan, Wisam and her family were forced to flee to Port Sudan, a small city on the Red Sea coast. In the chaos of their escape, they left behind most of their belongings, including Wisam’s cherished toys, books, and school supplies. “I left my toys, books, uniform, bag and pencils,” she recalls, her voice filled with nostalgia. “My uniform was beautiful.”
Sudan is currently grappling with the world’s largest child displacement crisis, with millions of children and families fleeing their homes, often multiple times, with little more than the clothes on their backs. The impact of this crisis on education is profound, as many children find themselves without the necessary tools to learn.
Recently, schools in Port Sudan reopened, allowing Wisam and her siblings to return to the classroom. However, like many displaced children, they had very few school supplies—just a handful of books their parents managed to purchase. With so many pressing needs, buying Wisam a new school bag was not a priority for her family.
That’s where UNICEF stepped in. At Wisam’s new school, as well as in many other public schools, UNICEF distributed essential school supplies, including chalk, backpacks, rulers, notebooks, erasers, colored pencils, and uniforms. This initiative ensures that even amid conflict, displaced children like Wisam can get back to learning.
Now in grade 3, Wisam is thriving in her new environment. During an English lesson, she listens attentively, and when it’s time to take notes, she eagerly reaches into her UNICEF backpack to pull out her notebooks and colored pencils. “I love my new bag,” she exclaims. “It’s much bigger than the one I had at home.”
Her new uniform adds to her sense of pride and belonging, allowing her to participate actively in class. Wisam frequently raises her hand to answer questions, showcasing her growing confidence. After her classmates leave, she often lingers in the empty classroom, absorbed in drawing flowers in her small notebook. Art is her favorite pastime, and with her new set of pencils, she is excited to add vibrant colors to her creations. “I will share the colors with my siblings,” she says with a smile.
In September, nearly 140,000 children across Sudan's Red Sea State returned to class with the reopening of 600 schools. “For millions of children in Sudan today, going to school and receiving a good education is a dream out of reach,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Sudan, during a visit to the Alwihda Janoob school for girls in Port Sudan. “The reopening of schools in Red Sea State signals hope.”
Despite this progress, more than 17 million of Sudan's 19 million school-aged children remain out of school. The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, has damaged hundreds of school buildings, and many others are being used as shelters for internally displaced people.
For children in war-torn countries, schools serve not only as places of learning but also as safe havens. They provide a protective environment that helps children cope with trauma and can prevent harmful practices such as child labor and child marriage. Education also protects adolescents from recruitment by armed groups.
As the reopening of schools becomes a priority amid these dire circumstances, UNICEF, supported by the European Union, Education Cannot Wait, and its regular resources, continues to provide critical education supplies. Wisam, like many other children, is benefiting from these efforts.
Yet, despite the joy her new school bag brings, Wisam still longs for her home in Sennar. “Home is better than here,” she says softly. “But we can’t go back because of the war. The war is very bad.”
The story of Wisam and her school bag filled with hope illustrates the resilience of children in the face of adversity. With continued support from organizations like UNICEF, there is a chance for these young learners to reclaim their education and build a brighter future, even amidst the challenges of conflict and displacement.
