#Education Cannot Wait #UNICEF #Sudan #Wisam #Port Sudan

A Beacon of Hope: Wisam's Story

In a bustling classroom in Port Sudan, Wisam sits diligently at her desk, her blue pencil dancing across the pages of her notebook. Surrounded by the sounds of her peers organizing their supplies, she remains focused, lost in the intricacies of drawing a flower. Her backpack, newly filled with school supplies, is a tangible reminder of the hope she clings to amidst her challenges.

At just nine years old, Wisam has faced hardships that many might not encounter in a lifetime. Forced to flee her home in Sinnar due to the relentless conflict, she and her family found refuge in Port Sudan. "I had to leave my toys, books, uniform, backpack, and pencils. My school uniform was precious to me," Wisam reminisces with a mix of sorrow and resilience.

When schools finally reopened in Port Sudan, Wisam's family struggled to afford the necessary school supplies. Thankfully, with the help of UNICEF and funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), she received essential educational materials, including a brand new school uniform. This initiative is part of ECW's comprehensive response in Sudan, which aims to create safe spaces for children, establish temporary learning centers, train teachers, and provide psychosocial support and mental health care.

Wisam and her siblings enrolled in their new school with excitement, yet the absence of proper materials dampened their enthusiasm. The challenges of displacement meant they could not afford the tools needed to succeed academically. Thanks to ECW’s funding, Wisam’s school is among many in Sudan receiving vital school supplies. With these resources, Wisam and her siblings now have new uniforms and backpacks brimming with notebooks, erasers, colored pencils, chalk, rulers, and much more. "I love my new backpack," Wisam beams.

For Wisam, her backpack symbolizes much more than just school supplies; it embodies her dreams of a brighter and more peaceful future in her homeland, allowing her to learn, grow, and reach her full potential.

Currently in the third grade, Wisam actively participates in class discussions, confidently raising her hand to answer questions. After school, she often lingers in the classroom, engrossed in her artistic creations. The colorful flowers she draws with care testify to her creativity and determination to find beauty even in dire circumstances.

Since the outbreak of the war in Sudan in April 2023, hundreds of school buildings have been damaged or destroyed, and many are repurposed as shelters. In times of crises, education is crucial not only for academic learning but also to provide a sense of normality, stability, and safety. It protects children from harmful practices such as child marriage, child labor, and forced recruitment into armed groups, granting them the chance to pursue their dreams and build a better future.

Wisam's story mirrors that of millions of displaced children across the nation. Sudan is currently grappling with one of the world's worst child displacement crises, with approximately 13 million school-aged children currently out of school. "Our home is better than here. But we cannot go back because of the war. The war is very harsh," the nine-year-old states ruefully. Yet, Wisam maintains her hopes high. With the support she has received, she now believes that education is her pathway moving forward.

ECW, along with partners like UNICEF, continues to aid children throughout Sudan, ensuring that even in the most trying circumstances, displaced children can pursue their education. ECW’s investments in the country facilitate the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, the provision of teaching and learning materials, teacher training, the improvement of access to safe drinking water, and gender-sensitive sanitation facilities. They also enhance access to quality, inclusive, and child-friendly education. Moreover, ECW and its partners are addressing the educational needs of refugees in the region, with grants also awarded in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, and Uganda.

Wisam’s journey underscores the resilience and strength of children, and the transformative power of education. Her backpack, once a reminder of everything she had to leave behind, now carries the weight of all she hopes to achieve. With each lesson, she draws closer to the future she rightfully deserves.