Sudan: Take 2
Hello everyone.
My name is May Malik and I'm a recent graduate of UCSB. I'm currently doing humanitarian aid work and research in the Sudan. I moved here about 2 1/2 months ago. Jake Thorn thought it would be a good idea to cross-post some of my personal Notes from my Facebook account in order to give people an idea of the kind of work currently being done in the Sudan and in relation to Darfur (a Facebook blog of sorts). This is the second Note of the series. Thanks!
"I last left my conscience burdened with the life-altering decision of whether or not to remain in Sudan, working for the national NGO sector with Salmaah, a human rights organization that hired me, or move to southern Lebanon in order to accept a position with Developmental Action without Borders (Naba'a), an organization dedicated to the rights of Palestinian refugees in the Middle East.
After much consideration and the weighing of numerous options, I decided that my heart lies here in North Africa and that my dedication is directed towards Sudan, a war-torn nation lost under the wings of cyclical poverty, deprivation and human rights abuses. By a stroke of luck, and the help of my mentor, I was introduced to the Regional Director of one of the world's largest and most reputable international NGOs - Save the Children USA. After much convincing, I landed a private meeting with the Director and managed to snag an interview for a new project centering on the protection and welfare of refugee children in Internationally Displaced People camps in Darfur, greater Kordofan and Khartoum. Not expecting much to come into fruition, I simply tried my hardest to sell myself and my ideals. By the grace of God, I was offered a job.
Children confront many damning issues in Sudan. The threat of military violence as well as physical and sexual abuse looms throughout the country. Due to a gross lack of medical resources, food, water and shelter, children have become the country's most innocent victims of its politics. It is no surprise that Sudan has one of the world's lowest life expectancies and one of the highest mortality rates amongst infants. Save The Children has grown to become the largest distributor of food and other essential resources in the war-torn region of Darfur. In cooperation with other international NGOs, Save the Children offers programs relating to the education of displaced child refugees, community food securities, unification of displaced family members within regions of conflict, and child protection. At the moment, my main focus will be research and field work in relation to the education of displaced child refugees and the protection of children, which entails the reintegration of separated children in emergency situations and conflict, demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers, disarmament, the support of victims of gender-based violence, and land-mine awareness.
As such, I have accepted a paid internship position with Save the Children USA! This was the sort of international NGO that I had thought would be out of my
reach - too large to penetrate mixed with a lack of field experience and the unwavering hand of the Sudanese government. I was offered the position as a local staff member since Khartoum is the place of my birth. I am, however, recognized as international staff due to my American nationality.
This is a position certainly worth staying in Sudan for. I can only say that I am very fortunate to have been granted such a burden of choosing between some incredibly powerful and influential organizations in the NGO sector. This is the beginning of what I hope will be a year of advocacy, research and human rights
campaigning in Sudan!
-May Malik
P.S. One of my greatest heroes is a South African photojournalist named
Kevin Carter. Through his lens, he brought grave yet important images of famine, despair and war to an other-wise neglectful and blind world. His dedication to the harsh reality of the human condition inspired me as a teenager to pay closer to attention to my reality, regardless of how far-removed I may have felt. Posted is a photograph captured by Kevin Carter in Sudan, a photograph that undoubtedly shook the international community by its collar."
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