PEACE & DEVELOPMENT

Education Project

Elementary Education:

The prolonged conflicts in Sudan have significantly impacted the education system. According to a report by UNICEF, about 19 million eligible children in Sudan have been deprived of education opportunities. This is due to various reasons, including inadequate government funding, which amounts to only 1.3% of the 2022 budget, for public education. The lack of qualified teachers, due to weak salaries and low social status, has worsened the situation by creating an unsuitable educational environment. The teachers are forced to seek other low-paying jobs to cover their living expenses, leading to a shortage of competent teachers.
Additionally, there is a scarcity of books, student seating, and funding for public and private educational institutions, along with a rise in study, subsistence, and transportation costs. Furthermore, the political and security turmoil, ongoing protests, and economic inflation have compelled many students to drop out of school and look for employment.
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Dr. Giddo and the Hollywood Actor George Colony

Schools Project

Over the past two decades, we have proudly supported 88,400 students in Sudan and Chad through our transformative Peace Schools Project, which adheres to the curriculum set by the Sudanese Ministry of Education.

Our Schools Project has provided essential services that include:

  • Volunteer teacher salaries
  • Textbooks and classroom supply for all schools
  • Daily necessities and water for each school: Meeting the basic needs of students to create a conducive learning environment.
  • By investing in education and sustainable development, we are not only nurturing the minds of the next generation but also laying the groundwork for a more peaceful and prosperous future. Join us in our mission to empower communities and transform lives—your support can make a lasting difference.

DPDO Schools Project:

For more than two decades, the Darfur Peace and Development Organization (DPDO) has helped 88,441 students access education across Darfur and refugee camps in Eastern Chad. With the support of partners including David Frieze & Family, UNICEF, UNDP, EAD, STAND, and generous contributions from U.S. high schools and university students, DPDO has also provided education for 684 high school students living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. Together, these efforts have expanded access to quality education, strengthened community resilience, and created lasting opportunities for children and youth affected by conflict. Continued support will enable DPDO to reach even more students in need.

USA students

Successful stories:

It’s always a great feeling to give back to the community. Hi, my name is Isra Abdalla and I started my journey after finishing middle school. I was lucky enough to get into the DPDO High School Program in Darfur back in 2011, which was highly competitive for Internal Displaced Persons students, as it was the only high school in the state where every student had access to computers. The educational atmosphere was amazing, and having a school bus and uniform made us feel special.

At first, using a computer was challenging for me. On my first day, I was nervous and my hands were shaking, but my teacher reassured me and advised me not to be afraid as it was just a machine. I became deeply interested in it and spent most of my break time in the computer lab. I decided to follow it as a career and topped my class.
I got into the University of Science and Technology to study Computer Science. I completed my Bachelor’s degree with honors and completed my Master’s program with distinction. After that, I worked as a Lecturer for two years to gain experience. Despite the numerous opportunities in the capital, I decided to return to my community in Darfur.

In 2019, I was fortunate enough to be appointed as a Senior Lecturer at the Subsaharan University College in Darfur and currently serve as the head of the computer program. I am grateful to our supporters, and I am aware that some people played a vital role in my accomplishments; I would not have done all this without their incredible support.

Successful
success-stories

Mitigating Education Youth in War Zone Programs:

Mitigating the impact of armed conflicts on children is urgent, critical and essential to ensure the well-being of children and their rights to safety, education, healthcare, and protection from violence.
Children residing in areas affected by armed conflict endure a multitude of grave consequences, including displacement, loss of loved ones, and impoverishment. Children are particularly vulnerable in such situations, as they are unable to defend themselves and often bear the brunt of the conflict’s impact.
The following projects aim to highlight the importance of mitigating the impact of armed conflicts on youth and explore various measures that can be taken to promote and safeguard children’s rights in conflict zones.
These measures include providing access to education and healthcare, promoting peace-building efforts, advocating for child protection laws and policies, and supporting community-based initiatives. DPDO has over 20 years in providing education and rule of law programs war zone.
By implementing these measures, we can help mitigate the impact of armed conflict on children and promote their well-being in conflict zones.
Education:
  • Ensure access to safe and quality education for children affected by armed conflicts.
  • Support education in the Refugees camps in Chad and Internal Displaced Persons in Darfur.

Education programs aim to highlight the importance of mitigating the impact of armed conflict on youth and explore various measures that can be taken to promote and protect the rights of children in conflict zones.
These measures include providing access to education and healthcare, strengthening peacebuilding efforts, advocating for child protection laws and policies, and supporting community initiatives.

The Mayor of Fort Waye address the crowd on Darfur Schools Project June 2007

Common Cent students’ organization in New York fundraising event

The Darfur Peace and Development Organization leverages 23 years of experience to deliver education and rule of law programs, focusing on mitigating the effects of conflict on children and promoting their well-being.
Our primary goal is to ensure that children affected by armed conflict receive safe and quality education.Supporting education in refugee camps in Chad and for internally displaced persons in Darfur.

High School

Darfur Peace and Development established a secondary high school for girls in 2012, where the majority were orphans from low-income families. DPDO provided school furniture, a computer lab, paid salaries for the teachers, provided transportation, and uniforms.

Over 682 students have benefited from our services. In the first year of the national exams, it was the second in the North Darfur State. Six students were admitted to the School of Medicine in several universities, dozens to the Engineering, and more to the School of Business and Law.

American High School Girls supported
Darfur High School girls in El Fasher

Gongressman Partick Leath and Vorment High School Students Speack up for Education in Darfur

University of Khartoum

Higher Education

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has had far-reaching effects on various aspects of life, including humanitarian aid, security, and the economy.
Due to the security situation, regular courses cannot be conducted. To address this challenge, we seek to establish an offline Learning Management System, would be the best solution. This system would enable students in the war zone to continue their education without interruption. We implore you to support us in this noble cause.

Subsaharan College

The Subsahran College was established in Darfur to serve the children of those displaced by the ravages of war in Sudan. Located next to the largest displacement camps—Abu Shouk, Al Salam, and Zamzam.

DPDO offers scholarships to students at the Subsaharan College in various specializations, including Medicine and General Surgery, Medical laboratories, Nursing, Business Administration, Accounting, Banking and Finance, Information Technology, Network Engineering, and Multimedia. It will continue to do so, based on its belief in the excellent outcomes demonstrated by the college graduates, who now work in organizations and government institutions:

Success Story: I am Rashida Abdel Rahman, a graduate of the Subsaharan College with a bachelor’s degree with honors. I was one of the students who received a full scholarship from the Darfur Peace and Development Organization. After graduation, I applied for the position of Administrative Assistant at the NRC Organization, among 20 applicants from different universities. I was nervous during the interviews because some of the applicants had practical experience, and I had just graduated.

I benefited greatly from the courses and teaching methods at the college because most of the lectures focused on transferring practical experience to the student. Thank God, I was able to pass the written exam with distinction. I was more determined during the interviews, and I was appointed. Thank you, Subsaharan College staff for making it possible for me.

Impacts on the Higher Education Institutions

Sadly, the political and security unrest in the country since the demonstrations against the National Congress government in April 2019 has caused considerable instability, disrupting the academic years of higher education institutions. The prolonged demonstrations that led to the downfall of the National Congress regime have affected the stability of educational institutions.
The war has caused a halt to all aspects of life, including education and health. The educational infrastructure has been completely destroyed, with libraries, laboratories, and research centers being looted or destroyed. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Higher Education, more than 104 educational institutions have been exposed to this destruction. Unfortunately, severe damage was done to universities in the states of Darfur and Al-Jazira, estimated to be 14 other universities, bringing the total number of completely destroyed private universities and colleges out of a total of 155 government universities to 118. This has caused a complete disruption in the education of approximately 719,000 male and female students. The Ministry has considered this to be systematic destruction, which has resulted in a complete halt to students’ academic future.
Since the beginning of this war, which was imposed on our country on April 15, 2023, higher education institutions and their employees have been subjected to severe damage at various levels.
  • The structural, material, and human damages to higher education and scientific research institutions (public and private universities and research centers):
  • Higher education institutions have lost a number of their scholars and employees.
  • Educational institutions have been totally or partially affected and destroyed (104) governmental and private higher education institutions and research centers.
  • Buildings, property, infrastructure, laboratories, libraries, halls, and administrative offices were damaged and destroyed by burning, looting, and breaking.
  • Student dormitories, including laboratories, offices, and workshops, were not spared from looting, vandalism, and arson.
  • The property and residences of faculty members and workers have been systematically targeted.
All of the above caused the cessation of academic and research activity in those institutions, which made us move towards introducing the e-learning system. It addresses the challenges facing Sudanese higher education institutions and ensure that students have access to continuing quality education.
University of Africa

Digital Learning Education Resources

The continuation of wars in Sudan for many decades due to the security, political, and economic unrest has left a significant impact on health and social services, especially in the areas of public education and university education in Sudan.
The project: The importance of Digital learning Education Resources: The landscape of education is constantly evolving, and digital learning resources have become a crucial tool that provides adaptability and accessibility, especially in the context of remote education in areas like Darfur, despite the internet and electricity challenges. Our educational institutions must proactively shape the future of learning to navigate the challenges presented by external circumstances.
Since the beginning of this war, which was imposed on our country on April 15, 2023, higher education institutions and their employees have been subjected to severe damage at various levels.

Objectives:

  • To ensure quality and continuity of education,
  • To enhance accessibility and adaptability,
  • To promote active and engaging learning,
  • Foster collaboration and communication,
  • Provide targeted support and personalization,
  • Empower educators

Expected Outcomes

  • Increased Accessibility:
  • Improved Engagement:
  • Personalized Learning:
  • Enhanced Collaboration:
  • Better Performance:
  • Cost-Effective:
Overall, digital learning resources for remote education can provide a rich, diverse, and transformative learning experience for students, teachers, and parents, leading to improved academic outcomes and success.
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Dr. Sabah Al-Shabebi (UAE)

Board Member

Dr. Sabah holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Sanaa University, Republic of Yemen. She is a certified obstetrician and gynecologist by the Jordanian Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Arab Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Prior to her current role as Deputy Director of the Modern Medicine Center, she served as an Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist at the Dubai Health Authority, Director General of Sharjah City Medical Center, and Medical Director of the National Center of Modern Medicine. Dr. Sabah is a member of the Emirates Medical Association and currently serves as the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Consulting and Training Group (Five and One Training Centre) within Mohammed bin Rashid’s projects – Government of Dubai. Additionally, she is the Chairman of KENZEL FACILITY MANAGEMENT within Mohammed bin Rashid’s projects – Government of Dubai. Dr. Sabah’s extensive experience and leadership in the medical industry make her a valuable asset to our DPDO organization.

Shiri Kalai

Assistant of programs

Shiri Kalai is an MSPH student in the Social and Behavioral Interventions program for International Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is completing her practicum with HEAL. In addition to joining the HEAL team, Shiri works with Key Point Health Services helping children in Baltimore City and County with their mental health symptom and behavioral management. She is anative Spanish speaker and is excited to work with Darfur Peace and Development to provide humanitarian relief to those in need!

Maisoon Ateem

Deputy Director of Health Program

Maisoon Ateem, Deputy Director of Health Program Maisoon has over 10 years of experience working in the field of public and global health. She graduated from Johns Hopkins Master of Applied Science (MAS) in Global Health Planning and Management and studied as an undergraduate in Sudan. Upon her graduation with a BA in Medical Science from Sudan University of Science and Technology, she worked for the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) among other UN agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Sudan and the USA. Her focus was conflict-affected populations in particular women and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) with special attention on survivors of sexual violence and people living with HIV/AIDs. She has been involved in all stages of emergency and reproductive health design and implementation and dedicates her career to bridging access to quality healthcare at the community and individual levels. A strong advocate for education, Maisoon works to integrate various aspects of her practical and personal experience into helping to make the world a better place for all.

Susan Burgess-lent

Vice President & Director of Operation

Ms. Burgess-Lent began her career in humanitarian relief and development in 1994 and has worked extensively in East Africa. She is the former Program Director of Darfur Peace and Development Organization (DPDO), responsible for the funding and operation of Kassab Women’s Center, the model on which WCI’s work is based. She previously served as a consultant to the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation (AIF), InterAction, CEPDA, and on staff at the American Red Cross International Services. In 2019, she published the non-fiction book Trouble Ahead: Dangerous Missions with Desperate People, about her work in Africa. She has presented speeches for many organizations about the impact of war and poverty on women, and solutions that can be implemented for their benefit.

Dr. Sabah Al-Shabebi

Board Member

Dr. Sabah holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Sanaa University, Republic of Yemen. She is a certified obstetrician and gynecologist by the Jordanian Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Arab Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Prior to her current role as Deputy Director of the Modern Medicine Center, she served as an Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist at the Dubai Health Authority, Director General of Sharjah City Medical Center, and Medical Director of the National Center of Modern Medicine. Dr. Sabah is a member of the Emirates Medical Association and currently serves as the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Consulting and Training Group (Five and One Training Centre) within Mohammed bin Rashid’s projects – Government of Dubai. Additionally, she is the Chairman of KENZEL FACILITY MANAGEMENT within Mohammed bin Rashid’s projects – Government of Dubai. Dr. Sabah’s extensive experience and leadership in the medical industry make her a valuable asset to our DPDO organization.

Cindy Castano

Treasure - Board of Directors

Cindy Castano is the president of Alpha Management Group, Inc. (AMG), which is an organization that focuses on business development, management and documentary film production. She has 30 years’ experience in client relations, sales and business development and has been a licensed investment advisor. Prior to founding AMG, amongst several positions in sales/marketing, Cindy has worked in the investment/financial markets of USA, London, England and Geneva, Switzerland, specializing in high value, multi-million dollar accounts. Documentary film production is one of the primary elements of AMG’s business and is structured under AMG Media, a division of Alpha Management Group. Ms. Castano is currently acting as writer, editor, and producer for a documentary entitled “MY SLAVE, MY INFIDEL,” which is in production. The film focuses on the slave trade in Southern Sudan and has expanded filming as events continue to unfold Darfur, Sudan. AMG also has a documentary in negotiations which will focus specifically on the genocidal conflict in Darfur.

Dr. Suliman A. Giddo

President ,Board Member

Dr. Suliman A. Giddo is a highly accomplished expert with over twenty years of intensive and comprehensive experience in leadership, international relations, strategic planning, conflict resolution and disaster and emergency management; having successfully created strategic plans for governments and private institutions in the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. He is also a renowned academic and researcher at George Mason University, with a proven track record of excellence in teaching at American universities including the School of Business at Indiana, and serving in senior positions for several international organizations, including the prestigious American Red Cross, Management System International and Qatar Foundation. Dr. Giddo’s extensive experience includes serving as a consultant for the UA-UN joint mission. He also served as a board member for several institutions and organizations.

Dr.Giddo is the dynamic founder and president of Sub-Saharan University, which offers eight programs in diverse fields such as medicine and general surgery, nursing, medical lab, business administration, information technology, computer network, and banking and finance, with over 2000 enrolled students mostly from Internal Displaced Persons.

Dr. Giddo earned his Ph.D. in Peace Studies and Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University in the United States, where he demonstrated exceptional academic prowess. He also completed postgraduate studies in Humanitarian Assistance from Fordham University in New York, a Master of Science in Business Administration/Accounting from Strayer University in Virginia, where he was an outstanding alumni (2008), and post-graduate studies in Strategic Planning and Project Management from the prestigious Stanford University in California. Dr. Giddo obtained his B.Sc. in Business Administration from the University of Khartoum.