Eid Al-Fitr 2023
Above, photos of our women’s literacy circles and orphan’s schooling programmes, taken over the past ten years.
“Teach as much as your endurance can last, / For there may come a generation / Who can work miracles and wonders; / Many a time people had their young child learn / Until he is raised enough to defend / His people’s wealth and glory.“
Ahmed Shawqi, extract from the poem “Ask my heart“.
Messages from our Chair of Trustees, Abdul Aziz Suliman, in London and
Country Director, Neimat Issha, in Khartoum
Above, top, our Chair of Trustees, Abdul Aziz Suliman, flanked by Saudi, our office manager and Neimat, Country Director. Below them, Adila Osman, our literacy programme coordinator. A few days ago, war broke out in the Sudanese capital. We are very relieved to report that, at the time of writing, all our staff are safe, though many of them have been forced to flee their homes. We want to express our profound gratitude to all of them. They have demonstrated great presence of mind, professionalism and courage over the past days.
Women’s Education Partnership’s presence in Sudan spans well over two decades. During this time, our Sudanese team and partners in Khartoum have weathered many storms. Nothing, however, comes anywhere close to the humanitarian tragedy now engulfing the country during this, the holiest of months in the Islamic calendar.
We are rigorously impartial and therefore cannot comment on or engage in any discussion on the political dimensions of the current crisis. If you would like to know more about what is happening in Sudan, please see BBC News Sudan and Aljazeera Sudan
Below, scenes from our recent teacher training programme.
A Message from our Chair of Trustees, Abdul Aziz Suliman
It is extremely sad to see the military conflict that is unfolding in Sudan. The fear that many ordinary Sudanese people are suffering is palpable and we ask that their humanitarian needs, especially during this weekend’s Eid observances, will be recognized and respected.
The work that all charities are carrying out to provide much needed assistance and support in Sudan has been jeopardized by the present conflict. As an educational charity, we are especially sad to see the disruption suffered to the education of young boys and girls as they approach the end of their academic year. All schooling has ceased and universities are closed.
The livelihoods of ordinary Sudanese, already precarious, have all but vanished for many. Only when hostilities cease, can this wonderful country return to normal life.
Message from our Country Director, Neimat Issha, in Khartoum
This message was received two days ago. I am happy to say that Neimat is still safe and trying to observe Eid with her family, despite ongoing shelling.
Neimat expresses the shock of so many Sudanese at what is happening, saying “we never expected the situation to deteriorate into all-out war. It is a horrible experience to fear for your own life, or the precious lives of your children or both. We are living with barely sustainable food supplies and with the constant worry of falling ill and having no medicines or chance of treatment if we do. Many pharmacies are closed or inaccessible because of the fighting. Despite all this, I know we are luckier than many of our neighbours, who have lost their homes or even their lives. Every day we call our relatives and extended family, just to do a headcount and offer each other the support we can. On the sixth day of fighting, we are now running out of food and fear having to sit in the dark as there are constant power outages. If we can’t recharge our phones, we can’t keep in touch with our family. We only pray that the fighting will stop soon.”
At this shocking, dangerous time, Women’s Education Partnership thanks our supporters, followers and friends for all their kind wishes, thoughts and prayers.
We look forward to the day when we will be able to restore our programmes.
We leave you with the words of Mahjoub Sherif.
Women's literacy in Sudan 