Helping local youth rebuild a school and restore hope in Eastern Sudan

“There were no walls, no classrooms—just open space and some old metal sheets.’’ The school had been destroyed in the ongoing conflict.

As a school principal, Fatima had seen struggling schools before, but this was different. Many parents were pulling their daughters out, and the few girls left sat on stones in the sun, trying to concentrate. “I had no idea how to run a school here,” she admitted. “It didn’t feel like a school at all.”

But just five days after her arrival, hope came in the form of young volunteers with tools and plans. The team was from Al-Ataa Al-Akhdar (Green Giving), a local youth-led organisation supported by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments Crisis Response action “Strengthening Local Responders for Sustainable and Effective Response in Sudan”. Unlike emergency aid focused on food and water, this initiative aimed to rebuild the school, strengthen the community and social cohesion.

“Because we are from this community, we chose this school,” said Bahr Mohamed, the project leader. “When we met the principal, she was in tears, saying, ‘I didn’t think anyone would come. I had given up.’ That’s when we knew we had to act quickly.”

Within days, the youth team laid the foundation for a new wall and classrooms. They were not just building structures; they were restoring trust. “Usually, people promise help and never return,” Fatima noted. “But these young people came back. They worked every day under the sun.”

The wall was finished, and the classroom followed soon after. Plans are underway to improve sanitation, plant trees, and add solar-powered lights to create a safer learning environment. “The change is clear,” Fatima said. “Parents who were planning to leave are now bringing their daughters back.”

Community members took part in many parts of the work—helping with construction, cleaning, and supporting the volunteers. This shared effort helped strengthen social bonds and build trust among neighbours. As people worked side by side, the project became more than just school rehabilitation—it became a source of unity and pride for the whole community.

This local effort is part of several projects funded by the EU to help rebuild schools, clinics, and water systems in areas affected by displacement.

There is still much to do. The school needs more classrooms, teacher offices, and clean water. But for Fatima and her students, the change has already begun. “We started from zero,” Fatima said. “But now, we have a wall. We have hope.” And hope is the most important foundation of all.

This initiative is supported by the European Union through the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, under the project for Crisis Response, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen locally led humanitarian response and resilience in Sudan.