Schools to reopen to provide education, protection for youth

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are resuming their educational work in Kalakla, one of the hardest-hit areas by war in Sudan*. Three years after the start of the conflict, the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen and millions of children still have no access to education. With international attention focused on other parts of the world, Salesians, who had been forced to leave the country at the height of the fighting, are reopening schools and offering protection, food and hope to youth who are vulnerable.

A Salesian said, “The country is facing one of the world’s most serious yet overlooked humanitarian crises. Violence, mass displacement and the collapse of basic services have left millions of people in a situation of extreme hardship, especially children.”

According to United Nations data, more than 8 million Sudanese have been forced to flee their homes — the world’s largest internal displacement crisis — and around 25 million, more than half the population, are in need of urgent humanitarian aid. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives since the conflict began. The country is facing an emergency characterized by hunger, poverty and international neglect.

The Salesian added, “In this fragile context, education has become one of the main casualties. Thousands of schools have been destroyed or closed, and millions of boys and girls have seen their education interrupted. Without access to a safe environment, many children spend their days on the streets, exposed to risks such as child labor, forced recruitment, violence or exploitation.”

The initiative involves repairing damaged infrastructure, supplying school materials and launching food programs to ensure students attend school regularly. The goal is to assist 1,500 youth impacted by the war by offering them not only access to education but also an environment protected from the risks arising from the conflict.

The Salesian explained, “Prolonged closure of schools has significantly increased the risk of children being permanently excluded from the education system. Furthermore, the lack of resources among families, exacerbated by inflation and the loss of livelihoods, prevents many children from returning to the classroom. Salesian schools fulfill not only an educational role, but also a social and preventative one. Through school feeding programs, educational activities and support services, efforts are made to improve children’s well-being and foster their holistic development.”

Salesians draw on a strong community network. The involvement of educators, volunteers and local groups makes it possible to gradually rebuild the social fabric and strengthen the response to the emergency. This joint effort is essential to ensure the sustainability of the initiative and the long-term impact.

The Salesian concluded, “The country’s future will depend largely on its ability to protect its children and guarantee them access to education. The reopening of schools in Kalakla is not merely an immediate response to the emergency, but a strategic investment in the future. Every child who returns to the classroom is another step toward rebuilding a country that needs, more than ever, opportunities, stability and hope.”

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Misiones Salesians

ANS – Sudan – After years of war, Salesian education reopens its doors to thousands of children

Salesian Missions – Sudan

UNICEF – Sudan

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.