Displaced by war

Abdulai al Riziq from South Sudan

(LWI) - Abdulai al Riziq left his home five years ago, fleeing the war that engulfed his village. “I am from Kokal in Blue Nile, Sudan,” the 18-year-old student says. “The soldiers captured some of our towns. Some of my relatives were killed. I still remember seeing them… that’s when we ran.”

Today, the young man lives in Gendrassa refugee camp, South Sudan, and attends the level 3 class of the Accelerated Learning Program, a fast-track education scheme for young people from conflict zones implemented by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and funded by ECHO Children of Peace and Church of Sweden. Like many of his peers, Riziq  was unable to regularly attend school before he came to the camp, as many public buildings were destroyed in the conflict in Sudan.

Instead of sharing a classroom with primary students half his age, Riziq is able to study with peers his own age. The program covers the curriculum of two primary school years within a year.

It is a challenge to continue education when he could find a day job and earn some money, Riziq says. “My parents support me and advise me to continue, even when I want to quit.” His favorite subject is science, and he hopes to be a teacher one day. “You need to give to the next generation what you have learned.”