Darfur Peace and Development

Help DPDO raise $100,000 to construct Gangy High School in Darfur

Dec. 2009- DPDO El Fasher Manager at high school site

Why?

Since the conflict began in 2003, secondary education in Darfur has suffered tremendously. Graduating 8th graders in rural areas have virtually no opportunity to continue their education. High schools in the city of El Fasher (capital of North Darfur) are severely overcrowded, with overflow classes held in makeshift shelters or out in the open under trees.

Gangy High School is named after a Darfur king who reigned before the time of Islam in the region.

How It Began

Summer 2007: with donations of nearly $55,000 from David and Donna Frieze and friends in Boston, DPDO began planning for construction of new high school in Darfur.

Nov. 2009- Construction team building perimeter wall

What’s been Accomplished

• Acquired 4000 square meters of land north of the city airport
• Reviewed and selected drawings, approved blueprints
• Secured building permits
• Consulted with engineers and contractors
• Acquired building materials
• Submitted name for Ministry of Education approval
• Completed perimeter wall to surround campus
• Completed drilling and installation of water well
  

Where is the high school?

Gangy High School is located in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. It is located near an airport and El Fasher University. See Google Map of location.

Draft design of high school

What is the layout?

• 280 meters of perimeter wall
• Main Building: two stories - 6 classrooms, 2 computer labs, 2 libraries, 4 teacher offices
• Secondary buildings: Latrines, Dormitory
• Center area: a courtyard
• Kitchen and cafeteria on the first floor
• Strayer University donated 120 computers for Gangy High School’s first and only high-school computer labs in Darfur. Other donors have contributed textbooks in Arabic and English for the library.

Who will attend?

460 orphans and other war-affected youth in North Darfur. 360 students will be graduating eighth graders entering their first year of high school. 100 will be older students who have attended other high schools in Darfur but have not successfully passed their final high school exam. Gangy High School will prepare these students to pass the test and allow them to graduate.

How the Project gained momentum in 2009

August 2009: Ante Up for Africa donated $150,000 to support construction.
November 2009: Ante Up for Africa donated $200,000 to support construction of the main buildings of the high school.

Construction through 2009

September 11, 2009: Groundbreaking ceremony attended by North Darfur Governor, Minister of Education and many well-wishers from the community
November 2009: Perimeter wall completed
December 2009: Water well drilling and installation completed; begin construction of main building
Target Completion Date: March 31, 2010. Students must be registered at the school by April in order to begin classes in May 2010.

For more information, please visit the DPDO High School Project page.

See photos of construction progress below:

12345►

Costs

$500,000 Projected total construction costs
$25,000 Projected costs of furnishings
$5,000 Projected cost of initial supplies
$TBD Projected operating costs per year

Fundraising Goal for 2010

$100,000: All donations to the Gangy High School Project, up to $50,000, will be matched dollar for dollar by the Friezes.

Contact: Katherine Naugle at 202-393-8150 or Katherine@DarfurPeace.org

For fundraising ideas and tips, click here.

To donate, click here.