Darfur (Sudan)

Building the Resilience of Youth

The horrors of the situation in Darfur have been well documented. Fighting between Sudanese governmental forces, the Janjaweed, and many other militias has left  countless thousands dead. Millions more have been forced from their homes to displaced camps, in what has been described by many governments and human rights groups as a brutal campaign of terror. The camps are intended to be a safe haven for a traumatized people. In reality, they are places of extreme danger for young people, many of whom have been separated from their families.

Young people, living without meaningful adult guidance and desperate to meet their basic needs, encounter many risks: substance abuse, involvement in criminal and military activities, abuse by community members, exploitation by employers, and ill health.

To mitigate the dangers faced by young people, and to bring a level of normalcy to their lives, War Child has established eight youth centres in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps on the outskirts of El Geneina and two in El Geneina town, West Darfur. The centres offer a protective environment in which both young men and women can engage in meaningful activities.

Many youth in the camp had their education interrupted, often for years. The centres provide accelerated learning courses in numeracy and literacy. Alongside these courses, the centres provide life skills workshops in conflict resolution, self-protection, health, civic engagement and gender-based violence awareness and prevention. To help youth avoid dangerous and exploitative work, War Child offers vocational training opportunities for young people. The courses teach marketable skills such as masonry and construction, or skills that will enhance household economies such as food preservation. The young people themselves are given leadership roles at the centre and are encouraged to organize recreational activities such as team sports and music. These activities were requested by the youth to help them forget the harsh day-to-day activities in the camp and the horrific violence that forced them there.

The success and popularity of the centres continues to spread. More and more youth are lining up to access the centre’s services. Amid the human tragedy unfolding in Darfur, War Child is unique in running the only long-term development program in the region. The skills and support that War Child gives to children and youth will allow them to rebuild their lives, help others and build a better future for Darfur.