Kubra dreams of being a teacher one day.

Meet Kubra, a second grader in a school that has been supported by Save the Children in West Darfur. Save the Children is concerned about the future of Kubra and thousands of other children the agency has served in Darfur for the past five years. In early March 2009, the Sudanese government ordered Save the Children USA and 12 other non-governmental organizations to stop operations and leave Sudan.

In a compound roughly the size of a basketball court, 10-year-old Kubra lives with her father, mother, two brothers, four aunts, five uncles and countless cousins.  Understanding the family, at first, is quite confusing. They all refer to each other as brothers and sisters and it is only with a bit of questioning that the true relationship becomes clear. But it also becomes clear why they view each other as brothers and sisters. The family has been through an incredible amount together; they have suffered, struggled, fled and ultimately rebuilt their lives together. 

Five years ago, Kubra and her extended family fled their home village for a neighboring village when militia invaded. Only four days after arriving in the neighboring village, Kubra and her family were forced to flee again. The family decided to walk nearly 50 kilometers to Krinding camp, a camp of almost 22,000 displaced people near Geneina, the capital of West Darfur. Six hours after setting out, the family arrived at the site in Krinding.

The family was given a small plot to call their own. Here they have built small thatch huts, one for each aunt and uncle and one for each grown cousin. They have built a thin thatch fence to mark their property and have built roofs to provide a shaded area where they can sit together. They have built a life for themselves here in Krindig, at least until they are able to return home.

For the entire family, education is one of the most vital parts of the new life they are building. Kubra is in grade two this year at one of the local camp schools supported by Save the Children and Dubai Cares. "Education is important so that the children can learn," says Kubra's father, Abdel Aziz "But it is also important because in school the children think about the future instead of thinking about the past. They learn new things instead of remembering the bad things that have happened."

Kubra's bright eyes, easy laugh and playful smile are proof that her father is correct. She is moving beyond the trauma of her past and is developing emotionally, physically, and intellectually. For two years before school, Kubra was enrolled in a Save the Children Child Center where activities are specifically designed to help promote inclusion and participation. Kubra says she enjoyed the Child Center very much, "We danced and sang songs and played. We drew pictures." Now that she is in school it is different but equally enjoyable, "We are learning useful things now, we don't just play we read and write and learn."

Kubra is learning math, Arabic language and Islamic religion. Her favorite class is religion, with a charismatic teacher who has inspired her to want to teach someday. "When I grow up, I want to teach Arabic," she says.

"Everyone here knows the importance of education"

Kubra's father is clearly very proud of his daughter. He listens to her talk about education and her hopes for the future and he adds thoughts and hopes of his own. "The Child Center gave her a base and now she is learning, she is reading and writing even at home. Everyone here knows the importance of education," he explains, "There are no children that are not in school."

Life in the Krindig camp is not easy. The families are crowded together in small spaces, they own no land and have trouble making an income, but the children are receiving an education and this gives the family hope. "Education will help us learn our rights and will help us to solve our problems," says one of Kubra's uncles.

Kubra's father nods in agreement. He will ensure that his children go as far as they can with their schooling. In their home village, the school was burned, but if they return home he is sure the community will work together to rebuild it. For now, his children are able to receive an education in the IDP camp. "I hope for my children to be well educated, to learn as much as possible," says Abdel Aziz. And maybe Kubra will be a teacher one day after all. 

Save the Children has provided basic education services to over 24,000 children like Kubra at 48 schools in West Darfur including the school Kubra attends. Working in collaboration with local communities and education authorities, Save the Children has helped to improve the quality of education in West Darfur through teacher training,  development of Parent Teacher Associations, provision of school equipment and educational materials as well as support for school construction. 

Learn more about our programs in West Darfur

Read our Q&A on aid agencies in Sudan

Last Updated March 2009