Schooling for Sudan Orphan Refugees

Mohamed El-Tayeb (c) now administers the Tagwa Centre school he founded, on land he donated, built by volunteers using local materials for its mud-brick construction, single-story, with five rooms, without a roof, water, or sanitation facilities. Despite its modesty, this is a dream come true for Mr. El-Tayeb and this entire refugee community, and an alternative to distant, expensive, overcroweded public schools.

Like the legendary Pied Piper of Hamelin--only with the lure of delicious desert dates, Mohamed El-Tayeb ventures into the dusty streets of his neighborhood of Dar-al-Salam-Taiwidat on the outskirts of Sudan's capital Khartoum. This is his way of attracting boys and girls, mostly orphans, off the streets, into school, and away from a gloomy future at best.

'What's different about this school is the feeling of responsibility and ownership this community has for their school,' according to Near East Foundation Regional Director Roger Hardister. 'It is a very good example of the benefits of working with people to improve something they have done themselves, rather than working as an outsider trying to start something new on your own. Here we find real long-term commitments by those involved.'

A strong magnet attracting orphans off the streets, 40 percent of Tagwa Centre school students are orphan children, victims of Sudan's wars, droughts, and famine. About 45,000 displaced people, originally from southern and western parts of the country, live here in chronic poverty with high illiteracy, massive unemployment, and insufficient health services.