Darfur Schools Program
Girls sitting in classroom at Ain Siro School- Sept. 2009
Thousands of children living in the refugee and internally displaced persons camps in Darfur have missed several consecutive years of their academic lives because of the intractable conflict. The Darfuri people revere education. The loss of educational opportunity is a great sorrow to families and communities. Yet thousands of school age children languish beyond the reach of relief efforts. After assessing regional needs, DPDO initiated the Darfur Schools Program. In 2005, with support from Darfur Diaries, DPDO began supporting the operation of three elementary schools in North Darfur. DPDO’s intimate connection with rural communities enabled access to unserved areas. In 2006, DPDO added two schools, then seven more in 2007. Currently DPDO supports 14 Schools of Peace in North Darfur and 4 in Chad.
View statistics of education in Sudan.
Current funding only allows DPDO to provide donations of school supplies to supported Darfur Schools.
Suliman Giddo with children in Abu Shouk camp
The DPDO El Fasher Manager oversees annual disbursements of school supplies, blackboards, and teacher kits. The Schools of Peace are a networked system, sharing what resources are made available.
The primary goal of the program is to improve teacher and student performance through adequate and appropriate supplies and textbooks.
Forug teacher's meeting
View map with school locations.
According to a 2009 UNICEF report, there are over 300,000 school-aged children in Darfur who do not have access to education. Twenty-two schools in Darfur (with 9,597 students and 88 staff) have submitted requests for inclusion in DPDO’s Schools Program. Many more have ceased operation due to lack of resources. Given the enormity of needs within DPDO’s current schools, new ones can be added only when current commitments are met fully.
Young students at Mastaria School of Peace
Due to decreased funding in 2010, DPDO was no longer able to provide teacher salaries for staff at the Darfur Schools. We will continue to provide schools with donations of school supplies and teacher kits.
Meeting the needs of high school students
Many displaced rural students have no educational opportunities beyond 8th grade. To meet this pressing need, DPDO is constructing a high school in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
Learn more about the construction of DPDO’s new high school in El Fasher.
For more information, contact Katherine Naugle, Programs Manager, at katherine@darfurpeace.org.
There are several ways for you to make a donation to the Darfur Schools Program:
1) Click this button to make a donation using PayPal.
2) Click this button to make a donation using your Visa or Mastercard.
3) Mail a check to:
Darfur Peace & Development Organization
P.O. Box 66475
Washington, DC 20035-6475
Read about Education in Conflict area.
The video clip below was filmed at Abdulshakor and Ain Siro Schools in May 2008.
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