Opportunities in Darfur
– Oct 19, 2012
Forced to flee from his village in Darfur when he was 17 years old, Khalid has spent the last few years starting a new life in Rayad, where he is working to inspire and empower young people. He fled with his five sisters and two brothers to the town of Jebel Moon in 2002, following a brutal raid on their village by rebels. It was here that they heard rumours of a newly established camp for displaced families just outside El Geneina.
Fearing that the women would be attacked by armed rebels during the long journey to El Geneina, Khalid and his family decided to leave the sisters behind in Jebel Moon with extended family members while they investigated rumours of the El Geneina camp.
“It was a very difficult time for us, we didn’t know what was going to happen,” says Khalid as he recalls his decision to separate from his family that night.
Khalid and his brothers found refuge in the Rayad internally displaced people camp, ran by the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR. The brothers waited for 6 months before they made the dangerous return journey to fetch their sisters and reunite the family.
Khalid made the most of his time in the camp. He learned to make construction bricks, which provided a small income for him and his family. From this new skill, he was able to rent a small house just outside of the camp. Soon, Khalid began participating in a War Child Canada sponsored committee for young people living in the camps and the surrounding area. Eager to become more involved in the running of the youth group, Khalid began volunteering for its committee.
Reflecting on his personal growth, he says: “Through the youth committee, I was able to attend War Child trainings and learn many new skills such as leadership skills, lifeskills and volunteerism. I gained a lot of self confidence through my involvement.”
But Khalid wasn’t just stopping there. In 2011, he was elected head of the youth committee at Rayad. “I regularly go and speak with other youth who are still in the camp for displaced people at Rayad,” he says with a confident smile. “I have gained the respect of many other young and feel proud of myself. I feel we are able to have a positive influence on many other young people in this area.”
Khalid’s inspiring story is typical of those we hear from our program in Darfur. By offering young people opportunities to grow, we foster a more safer and more stable environment for the community as a whole. So successful is the programme that our local staff are often approached by the community with requests to expand it. If you would like to support it, donate here.
Categories:
From The Field,
Opportunities,
Tags:
darfur,
leadership,
opportunity,
skills training,
sudan,
Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus- Me sweety Salon on Six months in Sierra Leone
I was born in Sierra Leone and now live in Edmonton AB, Canada. I just want to say thank you so much for such an amazing story. This stroy brought tears to my eyes, knowing that MY people are still suffering but yet have a positive attitude towards life. Thank for this wonderful story :)
- Augustine F. K. on Looking for Justice in northern Uganda
I am impressed. If all this is happening in real world and real life and time, in Uganda, then we are by all accounts, on our way to seriously addressing some of the most critical issues bedeviling sub-regions of Northern Uganda, which was devastated by more than a decade of war and civil strive, leaving many in human need and want.
Continued community education and essential skills training,supported by legal advocacy and action, is an important step forward, towards eradicating such evil in society, in hopes of empowering rural communities, for a more tolerant, cohesive, inclusive, democratic, peaceful, just and fair society.
Such is a surmountable task for one group to accomplice, on their own. Every effort War Child is making in that direction, should be supported by all those who care for the communities living in the sub-regions of Northern Uganda.They should pitch in. whatever support they can garner. So, what sort of sacrifices are you willing to make, to successfully accomplice this noble task? To improve conditions of living and change people's lives for the better! What action can you take now?
- Tom on Charles’ story
Wow, that really sucks. Poor Charles, it must be hard to here that your sister got raped. Luckely he had the training he needed.
- Yolanda Brown on The Cycle of Violence
Everyday we get closer to a solution!
- fsdfsdf on The Search for Justice
Very Insperational!
- mary anne on International Day of the Girl Child
This is a wonderful initiative, many thanks to those who have done the work to bring this day about!
- Ryan Harris on Change Through the Arts
Well music has always been a relaxing and enjoyable medium to relax in this phase of life. It is the only way by which people of different qualification come together to make something that targets the amusement of the public. So here is the example of something happening for everyone.
Sound Recording Studio - Sharavanan on It’s All About the Small Things
People who live luxuriously at rich counties do not care about the environment or generation of waste. Eventhough the awareness programs are conducted, they wouldn't follow the rules properly. But people in the undeveloped countries use less amount of energy and recycle as much as possible. Due to inadequate facilities, people follow the simple way of life and they save lot of natural resources. Small things can achieve big targets.
- Margaret on “A War On Childhood”
Perhaps the time has arrived for more peace talk and less war talk
- Jamiealexander on Get the Best Seats in the House
When will the auction begin on August 8th? What is the link to it?
thank you
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