Sudan

Together with some Arab pastoralist tribes, they face the cultural challenge of living on the geographical fault line between the largely Arab and Islamic north of Sudan and the predominantly Christian, animist, black African south.

The region has experienced repeated conflicts in the past, particularly during the civil wars in Sudan. Death, displacement and traumatic experiences for the survivors were the consequences. Although fighting still shakes Sudan, the Nuba Mountains have not yet been a focal point of the conflict.

Life in the Nuba Mountains in the south of Sudan is very simple and very hard. Water, a precious scarce commodity, is the linchpin of life. There are hardly any roads. The people are desperately poor and walk for days to reach other places. They live off what they find in nature. Occasionally they keep goats, chickens and pigs. Life here feels like it did in Central Europe 1000 years ago.

Many residents suffer from malnutrition and hunger. In addition, many communities in the Nuba Mountains have no access to clean drinking water and sanitary facilities. This and the limited access to medical care lead to an increased risk of illness and preventable deaths. The unstable situation in Sudan has exacerbated some of the problems.

There is not much for the children in the region to do. They gratefully accept the meaningful activities that our schools offer them for a few hours a day. And even the youngest children realize that this is their chance to escape poverty one day.