A letter to the Sudanese Diaspora

September 1^st, 2020

Aslam 3alaykum my Sudanese people in the diaspora.

On a hot august day in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, I was listening to a YouTube video of Emperor Wardi singing جيل العطاء. Afterward, I searched YouTube for information on the state of education (because that is my field) in our homeland. I saw a deplorable video of a Kandaka teaching children under a tree; the children were sitting on the dirt and exposed to the sun’s heat. This scene disturbed me alot. I don’t recall which rural area in Sudan that so-called school was in, but I’m sure there are many examples like this across the country. The video disturbed me the whole day, to the point I wasn’t able to sleep at night. I remember tossing and turning in my bed, staring up to the ceiling, thinking this is not right! and that I have to do something.

So, I remembered the words of Emperor Wardi’s song that I was listening to earlier. “Who else but us! will give to the people what it means to live and to triumph? Who else but us! will change the history, the values, and the path?” I was asking myself, who was Wardi making this powerful call to? wasn’t it to us?. So, the idea of the nonprofit came to me. Why don’t all diaspora Sudanese come together and help our people in Darfur, Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile, etc.? On the day of judgment, are we not going to be questioned by Allah (SWT) on how we lived our life and how we spent our wealth?

With over 3 million children not attending school, our country has one of the most significant numbers of out-of-school children in North Africa. That’s unacceptable. To try and tackle this huge issue, our first project will be building 18 tuition-free, sustainable, modern schools (in the 18 different states of Sudan). I understand as a nonprofit organization, you have to provide the people with something of value. Inshallah, when Allah (SWT) lifts the pandemic from all of us, to raise funds for these schools, we will host fundraising tribute concerts, where I will try to sing some of the Emperor’s  songs to the Sudanese diaspora (even though the African Emperor is impossible to replicate. The justification for doing all of this is to pay homage to the legend and  the greater good). Inshallah, if we succeed, we will continue the project and help our people in South Sudan.

You might ask, why do we Sudanese diaspora need to build schools? Isn’t it the responsibility of the Sudanese government, and we are already supporting our relatives back home financially? I understand that, but as you know, governments can’t solve every issue. Even governments of the wealthiest nations are not able to. That is why you have millions of nonprofit organizations that help out. In turn, these organizations get funding from the government to fix the issues the government doesn’t have the time to get to. As you all know, the Sudanese government has many problems  to try and solve. I don’t think building schools will come up in their plan anytime soon. Many of our people back home  don’t have relatives working abroad to help them. Who is going to help them?

There are currently around 12 million  diaspora Sudanese, with billions of dollars  in savings. Indeed, if each of us gives a little, we can build these desperately needed schools and lessen the burdens on the Sudanese government. Maybe in the future, a little girl from Darfur who learned how to read and write in one of these schools will become the prime minister of Sudan. Or a little boy from Halayeb and Shalateen, finds a cure for one of the incurable diseases. Or a little girl from Eastern Equatoria, the  secretary-general of the United Nations.

To build a nation, you have to start with education. 

These schools will be a gift from  diaspora Sudanese to these great people.                                 

The prophet (peace be upon him) said, “when a person dies, all their deeds end except three: a continuing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for them.”                                                               

Let us work together to help our people back home and share in the blessing.

Thank you so much for your time.

Sincerely,

Haythem Mohamed Ali