In Port Sudan, where conflict has devastated education, a school founded by Amna Mohamed Ahmed provides crucial learning opportunities for those denied schooling, particularly women. Amidst widespread displacement, students like Nisreen Babiker and Maria Adam pursue their education, demonstrating resilience and hope. Despite the war’s impacts, the school thrives, turning struggles into achievements such as high school graduation and university attendance under Ahmed’s dedicated leadership.
In a dilapidated classroom in eastern Sudan, students gather around as a teacher demonstrates Arabic letters on a worn blackboard. The school is led by Amna Mohamed Ahmed, a 63-year-old educator affectionately known as “Amna Oor,” meaning lion in the Beja language. For over thirty years, she has dedicated herself to helping hundreds in Port Sudan pursue their education, motivated by the high illiteracy rates in her community.
Amna’s initiative began in 1995, driven by the prevailing need for education in her locality. She noted, “That’s what pushed me to act. People wanted to learn — if they didn’t, they wouldn’t have kept coming.” Her classes specifically cater to individuals who have missed formal education, especially women hindered by cultural or economic obstacles.
Among the learners is Nisreen Babiker, 39, who expressed her long-held desire to return to school after having left in 2001 due to marriage and family responsibilities. “Even after all these years, it feels like I’m starting fresh,” she remarked. Ahmed’s school also serves as a refuge for those displaced by Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023, leading to widespread suffering.
Maria Adam, age 28, is one such displaced individual who joined the school after fleeing from the war’s devastation. She recounted, “When I arrived in Port Sudan, I heard about this place and joined,” highlighting her desire to complete her education and support her children. The conflict has severely impacted Sudan’s education system, leaving over 90 percent of school-age children without access to formal learning.
Many classrooms across the nation have been repurposed as shelters for displaced families. Prior to the conflict, Sudan was already identified as a country at high risk of educational collapse, according to a Save the Children analysis from 2022. Nonetheless, the determination to learn at Ahmed’s school remains evident, with many students advancing to high school and some achieving university degrees.
In the classroom, a mother studies alongside her young son, aiming to empower both their futures through education. Amna expressed her fulfillment in witnessing students transform: “To watch someone go from not knowing how to read or write to graduating from university, getting a job, supporting their family — that is what keeps me going.” Her mission turns perceived burdens into contributing members of society.
Amna Mohamed Ahmed’s school in Port Sudan represents a beacon of hope amidst the chaos of conflict, offering vital educational opportunities to those who have been marginalized, particularly women and the displaced. Despite the challenges posed by widespread illiteracy and an unstable education system, the unwavering commitment of the students and educators alike fosters a profound transformation in their lives. The resilience and determination exhibited at this institution illustrate the crucial role of education in rebuilding lives and communities in times of crisis.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
