The Situation in Khartoum
Women’s Education Partnership – Weathering the Storm
Above, welcoming guests to Jebel Awlia literacy circle.
Brief Overview of the Situation in Khartoum
Above, our country director, Mrs Neimat Issha, the essence of whose January message I relay below.
It is remarkable, given the deepening economic and political crisis in Sudan, that any semblance of normal life is possible in Khartoum. Yet the Sudanese and with them, the staff of Women’s Education Partnership, calmly push on with their lives and work. As social and political unrest intensify, Khartoum’s main arteries and bridges remain cut off, making journey times to and from work unpredictable, long and stressful. Many businesses, schools and universities have suspended their activities in increasingly tense and volatile times as uptake of UN-brokered resolution talks falters against the backdrop of erratic internet and media access. In December, hospital managers warned of the “imminent collapse of provision of health services” flowing from lack of administrative and financial resources and pressures generated by rising Covid-19 cases.
Above, Jebel Awlia, one of the communities hardest hit by Sudan’s ongoing crisis.
Inflation, food shortages and hikes in fuel, electricity and water costs have generated further hardship for Sudanese struggling to survive. Neimat echoes Save The Children’s recent findings that children are working long hours and most families in Khartoum are having only one meal a day. Many queue for hours for bread only to find that on reaching the head of the queue, bread has run out for the day. A friend told me many people in Khartoum are subsisting on bread and onions – when they can get them. Tea and coffee have become luxury items out of reach for many Sudanese. Below, recent coverage of Sudan.
Save The Children Sudan Crisis
Sudan: This week’s news in brief from Dabanga
Two-day “comprehensive strike”
A literacy graduate at Jebel Awlia, talking about the difference her literacy skills have made to her everyday life – the first time she has spoken in public too.
Below, a very apt Sudanese proverb on the back of a Khartoum rickshaw;
“If you have weathered storms, you do not fear the breeze.”
Weathering the Storm – Thanks to You and Your Support
Above, our literacy coordinator, Mrs. Adila Osman.
Despite huge challenges, Neimat and Adila, together with Saudi, WEP’s accountant and Hoyam, responsible for our university scholarship programme, have managed not only to keep our projects going but have also kept closely in touch with our beneficiaries, supporting them in every way they can. They have secured the preliminary necessary authorizations from the Ministry of Education to deliver our projects this year – no small achievement in the current circumstances, and look forward to moving ahead with all our work once final approval has been given. Adila writes:
“Our literacy participants all express the desire to continue with their projects, especially their income generation work; and are continuing with their local soap and bag-making initiatives, despite many obstacles.”
Above, Jebel Awlia; a community striving to build infrastructure and services.
Neimat, Adila, Saudi and Hoyam are determined not only that our work should continue but also that it should flourish. Sudan has weathered many storms in her recent past and Women’s Education Partnership has endured – an active and proactive presence for over twenty-five years. Your kind support and interest have made this possible.
This is a literacy and orphans post for
Learn more about our life changing educational work in
Scenes from Our Orphans’ Schooling Programme
See too Community Literacy, Latest News and At a Glance
Below, a literacy and numeracy game at one of our literacy circles, held before the pandemic.
Women's literacy in Sudan 