Transforming Communities bit by bit

KHARTOUM-Mayo District located south of Khartoum state is host to thousands of poor urban children and their families who have fled from conflict areas. In this district, thousands say they have found relative safety and they are slowly rebuilding their lives. Challenges range from lack of access to basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity to safe spaces where children can learn and be nurtured.

World Vision is working alongside local organisations (NGOs) and the affected families, supporting them to access some of these essential services. 

To improve access and the quality of education for children, World Vision has supported the construction of four classrooms, three offices for teachers and installed a hand water pump in Farm Mixed Basic School. The school admits a majority of children who live in the camps for internally displaced persons.

World Vision has also supported the renovation of three latrines and classrooms that had been completely rundown. Additionally, World Vision has provided the more than 750 pupils who learn at the school with learning materials such as books and other stationery, school uniforms and sports equipment-to facilitate their learning. Having these facilities is key in keeping children in school. 

Rehabilitating street children

At Mayo Children's Friendly Space Centre, through a national NGO Partner Baldna Organisation, World Vision is supporting the rehabilitation of street children through formal education, vocational training and psycho-social support. Additionally, World Vision has supported rehabilitation of the centre that hosts 70 children plus equipping it with necessary recreation and sports equipment.

Nine-year-old Ahmed is one of the children admitted at the centre. He does not live with his family and he does not have a clue as to where his family is. Ahmed says he used to roam the streets of Khartoum during the day and at night he would go and sleep at the market verandah.

Little Ahmed fled conflict in West Darfur in 2014 and came to the Mayo Child Friendly Space Centre the same year.

A social worker from World Vision’s partner organisation met him wandering in Mayo market and asked him some questions and it is during this encounter that the social worker invited Ahmed to join the centre.

The centre supports children like Ahmed to not only join formal education but also giving them a dignified life. He is now studying at one of the basic schools in Mayo. “I love coming to the centre because I learn good things here. I also meet different children who I play with different games.

Currently there are a total number of 70 street children and those at risk of becoming street children being supported in the centre.

“It is very inspiring to see the work that we are doing with the street children through our partner organisations. When you reach out to that child out there in the street and bring them to a safe space, you are taking that single step in ensuring their well-being and giving them a dignified life and that’s the spirit of the work of World Vision,” said Simon Nyabwengi, country programme director when he toured the project.

The rehabilitation of the dilapidated classrooms and construction of new classrooms is funded by World Vision Hong Kong while the rehabilitation of the child friendly space for the street children is funded by World Vision Australia with support from the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF). 

 Story by Gamal Ghallab, Communications Officer