Darfur Peace and Development

In November 2011, Darfur Peace and Development has completed a yearlong Paralegal program in Darfur IDP camps. Over 7400 beneficiaries from Kassab camps were trained. UNDP in Sudan had funded the program.

Program Director Susan Burgess-Lent will be speaking at the Global Woman Summit on October 11, 2011 in Washington. More information at Global Woman Summit.  She will also be a featured speaker at the Dining for Women Summit in San Jose October 13-15, 2011…

For the past eight months, DPDO President Suliman Giddo has been working in Darfur, Sudan on a community dialogue initiative sponsored by a grant from the US Department of State. Omer Ismail headed up the Chad team.

During this process, Suliman and Omer conducted over 30 workshops with internally-displaced people (IDPs) in Darfur and refugees in Eastern Chad on how to engage them in the Darfur Peace Process. They discussed the difficulties that the IDPs and refugees face in the camps on a day-to-day basis. They also addressed what both the IDPs and refugees see as their vision for achieving the sustainable peace that will facilitate their return to their homelands.

DPDO’s Women’s Center has grown into a sturdy lifeline for war-displaced women and their children in Kassab Camp, North Darfur.

227 women are learning to read and write. The students of our literacy program fill 8 classrooms. A room at the Center has been designated as a library; the women request both shelves and the books to fill them. Also at their request, a basic-level English language class has started.

DPDO has received a $15,000 grant from Change Happens Foundation to support health education and services at Kassab Women’s Center;

DPDO is partnering with UNDP (United Nations Development Program) to support the work of paralegals in Kassab IDP camp.

DPDO is entering an exciting and demanding new phase of work in Darfur. Many opportunities are emerging that will allow DPDO to serve war-effected Darfuris with expanded and innovative programs. Our success requires commitment to and timely execution of duties accepted by membership on the DPDO Board of Directors.

DPDO is pleased to partner with PowerFilm Inc to provide a foldable solar charger for the Women’s Center in Kassab.  No electrical power is available in IDP camps  This amazing lightweight portable technology will allow DPDO’s staff at Kassab to power a laptop, printer and cell phones. This is a huge breakthrough for all of us.  We will post photos of the charge in use after our Program…

DPDO is looking for Spring/Summer Interns to assist us with administrative and program work. Interns must be available to work with DPDO for at least 3 months.

Internships are unpaid, but school credit may be earned.

Interested students can contact Katherine Naugle at katherine@darfurpeace.org for more information. Please include a resume and cover letter…

DPDO’s Women’s Centers  are featured in the December 2010 issue of Global Woman magazine. Click here to view the article, written by Program Director Susan Burgess-Lent…

Construction on the exterior structure of Gangy High School is nearly complete. This month, DPDO will install doors and windows, work on the interiors, and set up classroom spaces.

Click here to see photos of the construction process