Women in Sudan: Voices of Hope

Sudan was once called the "breadbasket" of Africa; a land of enormous potential. Where people from diverse religions and ethnicities co-existed in relative peace. And although most people seldom thought about it and knew it only as "some country" in Africa, those who came in contact with its culture fell instantly in love with the generosity and good-nature they found there. Today, the image is entirely different. Today when we hear the name Sudan we think of dictatorship, famine, a gruesome civil war, a hub of terrorism, persecution, injustice, and of course, Darfur. Today the image is one of hunger, death, and massive human suffering. As a woman, I feel a strong sense of despair at the thought of this suffering and the sad reality that the sufferers are mostly women. War does unthinkable things to women and their families. As a result of the war in the south, almost two million southerners were forced to desert their homes and flee as refugees to the less-welcoming north. Most of these were women and children. Once in the north, they are forced to live in camps lacking all the necessities of a decent living. In order to survive, women have had to compete for very limited work opportunities like washers or maids. Some have resorted to prostitution or the brewing of alcohol--two occupations that are considered serious crimes and often result in jail time. When their mothers are jailed, their children are left homeless. So authorities have allowed mothers to keep their children with them in prisons. What results is a family living in poorly equipped, unhealthy, cramped and unsanitary environments. In the north, where things are considerably more comfortable and safe, people are still not without hardship and suffering. In my recent talk with Loloa Ibrahim, Director of The Sudanreach Women's Foundation, I learned that "the media often paints a picture of the northern "Arab" surrounded by luxury; a slave owner, and a brutal oppressor. But the reality is that northerners, especially women, are suffering greatly albeit in an entirely different way. True, they are not subjected the same level of violence but almost 90 percent of them live under the poverty line. Many women have been widowed by the war, many die of preventable diseases, many see their children or siblings dragged away by the NIF war machine and forced to fight in a war that very few people believe in. Many of them have their children returned to them in body bags. And all of them don't have the voice or the power to protest these injustices." Like many of us, Ms. Ibrahim was appalled by the situation in Sudan; the vicious destruction of the south, the poverty and loss of hope in the North, and the unspeakable human disaster in the west. Last year she founded The Sudan-Reach Women's Foundation as a way to allow women to band together and combat poverty and injustice. Now in its second year, the foundation has raised sizeable funds and is already helping numerous Sudanese Women. "We are fortunate," Ibrahim says "and heartened by the overwhelming support we have had from other organizations and from everyday citizens. American women in particular have been among our most generous supporters." In such a globalized world as ours it is almost impossible to ignore what is happening in Sudan. In the U.S., numerous new organizations have sprouted just for the sole purpose of seeking justice for Darfur. Savedarfur.org is one of them, and of course the dynamic student organization known as STAND--Students Take Action Now Darfur. "Our vision is to return Sudan to the glory of its past," says Ibrahim "But our strategy is to accomplish this through the infinitely creative, powerful, and resilient spirit of women. When we empower a woman we can empower a family, a community, and a country." When or how Sudan can return to its previous glory is a difficult question that encourages a host of complex answers, doubts, and uncertainties. But the hopes of so many Sudanese citizens, myself included, is that the attention of the world, the giving spirit of everyday people, and the tireless efforts of concerned, global organizations, will help Sudan emerge from years of poverty and injustice with women at the forefront of its victory.