Speakers Peter and Ann Hullah - Women’s Education Partnership

Power to the Powerless through Education

The Women's Education Partnership aims to secure a better future for disadvantaged Sudanese and South Sudanese women and children by providing educational support without religious or ethnic discrimination.

Background

Sudan once the largest country in Africa is now two countries. After more than 20 years of conflict two million people have died and four million have been displaced. Despite a peace agreement in 2005, ethnic conflict, environmental degradation and widespread human suffering continue. Many displaced persons cannot return to their homelands. The living conditions of hundreds of thousands of marginalised people in the shanty towns around Khartoum and other cities, including thousands recently displaced from Darfur, remain inhumane and degrading. The Women's Education Partnership began its work in response to the needs and requests of displaced and marginalised people who live in poverty in squatter settlements. The Women's Education Partnership takes its lead from what displaced and marginalised people say they need and seeks to help those whose lives have been shattered by war and displacement prepare for a better future through education. Equally important, we are committed to ethnic, religious and social reconciliation through shared community service. Our donors, patrons, employees and volunteers include Muslims and Christians.

We believe in:

• Education as a human right
• The empowerment of women for a better future
• Response to what marginalised people, women in particular, say they need
• Respect for people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds
• Personal and community empowerment through service
• Promotion of volunteerism
• Provision of basic medical and other support to foster education
• Combating HIV/AIDS through education

Target Groups

• Marginalised, displaced and illiterate Sudanese and South Sudanese women
• Marginalised and displaced young women seeking university education in Sudan
• Children from destitute or displaced families
• Communities with no affordable medical resources
• Teachers in self-help basic schools
• Community organisations in settlements for displaced persons
• People living with HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS orphans

Scope

The Women's Education partnership will work where allowed in Sudan, South Sudan and expands its projects and geographical reach as funding and management permit. Any project or programme which educates or supports the education of Sudanese or South sudanese women and children living in Sudan or South Sudan is within our scope including technical, vocational, medical and paramedical training. Male children may benefit from us but adult male education is outside the our mandate, as are theological education and education outside Sudan or South Sudan.

Women's Education Partnership Projects

• Women’s literacy classes
• University scholarships in Sudan; Hostel accommodation for needy university students
• Educational scholarships for orphans whose families are afflicted by HIV/AIDS
• Solar lighting panels for literacy classes, community centres and clinics
• Crucial medical care, in particular for women and children, through the Eye Care Outreach projects
• HIV/AIDS community awareness outreach; support to people living with HIV/AIDS
• Teacher training and support programmes; Paying for teachers’ salaries in self-help schools for displaced children. We monitor progress carefully.

Achievements

• Women’s literacy classes now at 40 sites in Khartoum, the Nuba Mountains and setting up in Darfur
• Graduation of more than 2,250 women from literacy classes
• Enrolment of nearly 300 students in Sudan universities
• Graduation of well over 200 women scholars from Sudan universities by 2012
• Payment of basic and kindergarten teachers’ salaries in 32 self-help schools
• 150 educational scholarships for AIDS orphans
• Installation of nearly 30 solar lighting panels in support of education
• Examination of 3,000 individuals yearly by the Eye Care Project which also provides free reading glasses, medicines and eye surgery
• Provision of basic medicines to communities with no other access to health services
• Unique HIV/AIDS Awareness project which reaches over 15,000 people each year in the Khartoum vicinity