Here goes nothing! Well, I grew up in a place and a home where a close-knit family, education, sympathy, communication, dedication, and being a strong woman, self-motivated driven dreamer meant everything, Ever since I was a kid, my parents always made sure to remind me that I can achieve whatever I want as long as I put my mind into it, and dreams are always possible, that I am also able to make them into reality, and I am strong, that I am smart, and a person with a future as bright as the sun, capable and have the right to dream, have the right to better education, have the capability to work hard, be a part of the community where I grew up and where am at, but at the same time, I need to be thoughtful and not forget neither where I come from, nor my relatives. So the thing is, I was born and raised in Khartoum, which is the capital city of Sudan, but my parents come from Darfur. For those who are unfamiliar with these places, Darfur is a beautiful region in Sudan, located in western Sudan, known for its vast expanses of arid desert terrain, rugged mountains, and fertile valleys. Despite the challenging environment, the people of Darfur have a rich cultural heritage that is deeply rooted in their history, traditions, and way of life.
Just a pinch of why am I genuinely passionate about the SDG goals in and out of my community and dedicated to identifying solutions. Especially peace and education. I still remember very well, the day I fell in love with reading ever since I was able to read, that’s why I got the chance to taste that sweet taste of uttering words from the letters I see and get to feel, I started off with some stories and kids magazines, which my uncle “Yassin” and I used to grab almost every week from a small library near home, they were random Arabic magazines, such as “Majid” “Simsima” and some other magazines, and believe it or not, I still keep each and every one of those magazines at home – sometimes I like to go to our storage room, open those rusty, yet full of memories pages and find myself automatically smiling, they are like the mirror to my childhood that never breaks.
My dreams started when my parents first started to tell me stories about the place where they grew up, As by now, the world is familiar with the tragedy in Darfur. We have known war, ethnic cleansing, discrimination, and underdevelopment for a long time. We were never treated as equal to others in Sudan. Children, especially women in Darfur face many challenges in receiving an education: too few teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and limited or no supplies, among others. Youth faces even more difficult barriers: secondary schools do not exist in the internally displaced person camps. After nearly four years of conflict, there is still a lack of quality and appropriate education for the more than one million children and youth displaced from Darfur.
The region has been facing discrimination and it also suffers from conflict, both women and men are treated inequitably compared to other parts of Sudan, Moreover, girls are often left with no resources to pursue their dreams. And it’s not just that, because I remember so well during my visit to Darfur, I guess I was what, maybe in my early twenties, I was excited to see the place my family had always spoken fondly of, and upon arrival, the minute we got off of that plane, I was struck by its natural beauty and greenery. However, as I visited relatives and family friends in camps, I began to see the bigger picture and understand the sad stories that my family had shared with me. I saw children and young people, especially girls, who lacked access to education, and it made me think deeply about the importance of education and its impact on people’s lives.
“As someone who has experienced discrimination in her own country, returning to Khartoum after this visit and witnessing the tragic situations in my hometown with my own eyes was devastating. However, I was also inspired by the intelligence and resilience of the women there, despite the lack of educational opportunities and obstacles to pursuing their dreams.
To be the mirror to these challenges, I became a peace, education, women, and human rights activist and became more and more involved in the community, especially with the youth. I started my own educational organization in Khartoum and recently launched “It’s All About You Queens,” which aims to empower and support women in Africa, particularly in Darfur, in achieving their goals and dreams, regardless of the obstacles they may face. The initiative provides motivation and inspiration through the stories and experiences of successful women of color from around the world. Additionally, it helps women to realize that the key to achieving our dreams is to have a deep understanding of ourselves, our strengths, and our potential.”
Through my experiences as a Global Peace Ambassador and an Obama Leader Cohort 2023, I hope to continue to make a positive impact in promoting education, peace, and women’s rights in Africa, particularly in Darfur, and worldwide.
If I were to discuss my dreams, it would require more space. However, to be brief, my aspiration is to assist all young individuals within my community and beyond. Additionally, I envision a more secure and improved Darfur with increased educational prospects for both genders. I dream of a world where individuals opt for peace rather than violence and a place where everyone feels at home. Furthermore, I dream of a world where women’s rights are respected, and they are valued and appreciated.