Sudan

Background

• Sudan is the largest country in Africa and is located in North Eastern region of the continent. It rests south of Egypt and west of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Sudan has a total area of 2,505,800 sq km and a population of 38,114,160.
• The country was in a state of civil war from 1972 until May 2004, when the Sudan People's Liberation Movement signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the Government of Sudan.
• Since the war began over 2 million people have died and over 4 million people have been displaced of which 75% are children.
• Today, human rights abuses remain widespread throughout the country. The most affected by Sudan's civil war have been the children and youth living in the South of Sudan. Here more than 50,000 children have been orphaned due to the civil war, and another 170,000 have no information about their biological parents.
• Southern Sudan is now going through a period of reconstruction and rehabilitation since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. One of the main priorities includes the development of education such as, upgrading and building schools, teacher trainings, and increasing children and youth enrolment in schools.

What We Do

The Right To Play programs directly address these challenges through recognition of sport and play as an innovative and dynamic learning tool that emphasises the holistic development of children. Our programs support the Ministry of Education to conduct teacher training and enhance physical education curriculum in the schools. Right To Play in consultation with relevant stakeholders also establishes community based initiatives such as coach trainings, mentorship of youth and implementation of regular activities for children and youth living in Juba. Considering 500,000 children and youth were enrolled in 2006 in schools for the first time since the war ended, Right To Play programs are a welcomed addition to the government’s priorities including but not limited to: increasing teacher trainings, enhancing of curriculum, and maintaining high student retention rates in the schools.

So Far

Working with our participating partners including UNICEF Sudan, Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Education, Right To Play began Teacher trainings during the second quarter of 2007 in 11 schools. Approximately 4,500 children and youth were reached through the 107 trained community coaches and teachers.