Inside the Hafsa Bint Omar School for Girls in Port Sudan, a twelve-year-old girl enters the office of the school’s headteacher. She wants to attend school for the first time. She is hoping to join the non-formal education classes for accelerated learning. 

The girl is one of a growing number of children seeking education after missing out on learning because of war, displacement, poverty or other social customs. 

The conflict in Sudan has created one of the world’s largest education crisis by disrupting the education of over 17 million children. Port Sudan, one of the safer states in the East of the country, has become refuge to thousands of people displaced from their homes. The resulting situation was public resources overwhelmed by the influx of IDPs in the city. One teacher describes how crowded classrooms are in her school, with almost 120 students per class, creating immense challenges for teachers.  

• Clip with Nadia Mahmoud –  

In an effort to safeguard children’s access to education and protection services, the EU has funded Save the Children with 30 million Euros to support 160 schools across six states with teacher training in emergency education skills and direct support to children. The program has reached 56,000 children with school supplies, renovated classrooms, meals as well as psychosocial support to help those children navigate the trauma of war.  

The schools in Port Sudan reflect the reality of displaced students. Many have been out of education for months. Others witnessed horrors that continue to haunt them. Nusaiba watched as both her friends died on the streets in Khartoum. “Children had to endure circumstances that were beyond their ability to comprehend.” Says Fatima Suleiman, project staff member “Those that need psychosocial support are identified. Specialised support workers at the schools offer assistance but some are referred for further medical and psychological support” 

• Clip with Nusaiba - 

The project works to benefit both the displaced community and the local people of Port Sudan. By operating at the intersection of providing immediate humanitarian relief to address the urgent need to integrate displaced children into strained schools, while simultaneously developing the schools and the surrounding community for a more sustained long-term impact, the project is able to promote peace and tolerance by mitigating potential tensions that could arise from the reduced access of locals to schools and public services.  

Mohamed Ahmed, a local father and a member of the Parents-Teachers Association explains the significant improvement they felt after his children’s school became part of the EU-funded project: “We used to build one classroom out of wood every year. Now, the organization has taken over these difficult tasks and we as parents are only required to monitor our own children. We are very good now.” 

Tabarih Mohamed, a displaced mother recounted her struggles in displacement from Khartoum to Port Sudan where she now lives with relatives in one house with more than five families. She spoke about  her son Mussab, who suffers from medical issues that made it difficult for him to go to school. Today, Mussab is being educated in a supportive environment that accommodates his needs.  

• Clip leave no one behind: Mussab and PTA - 

A significant aspect of the project is its commitment to the successful inclusion of children with disabilities. Ramps have been installed in 20 schools across the state to help children with disabilities study and integrate well with other children. 

Malaz Abdulaziz, a project staff member from Save The Children explained how families of children with disabilities are also provided with psychological support to help them realise the importance of ensuring their children’s full participation in school activities, overcoming hurdles and becoming part of the school community. 

Nimat is a xxxx years old girl who has lived with a physical disability since birth was finally able to access education. Her mother first became aware of the project through a school teacher: “A teacher came to me and said if you send her to school there is an organisation that will give her a wheel chair, so I sent her to school” she says, “Nimat says she wants to go to school. Then grow up, get a bigger wheelchair and go to university…She is only just learning to write” 

• Clip Leave no one behind: Nimat and project staff - 

In these times of turmoil, the simple act of going to school offers children a vital sense of stability and normalcy. This EU project strives to provide comprehensive support to children, addressing their education, protection, nutritional and medical needs. The growing number [figure?] of children willing to come to school is a testament to the project’s profound impact. Sadly, the same can not be said about children in other states affected by the conflict. There, the children continue to pay with their future for this war.