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Meet Seven Stand-Out Darfuri Students from Goz Amer Refugee Camp

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Meet Seven Stand-Out Darfuri Students from Goz Amer Refugee Camp

Posted by Olabukunola Williams on February 22, 2012

Last year, I met amazing students in Goz Amer refugee camp in eastern Chad, and we’ve now created profiles for seven of them so that we can continue sharing their stories.

Alfadel, Alhaphis, Ali, Arafa, Hafsa, Sadia, and Salwa represent the more than 6,000 students enrolled in Goz Amer’s six primary schools. These students are eager to learn, determined to succeed, and hopeful for the future. By sharing their stories and updates about their lives, we aim to increase U.S. support for their education and fuel their hope. Here are three of them:

Sadia (left), a 16-year-old student, took us to her home to introduce our team to her family and friends. While sitting with her friends, she brought out a bottle of perfume and sprayed me with it. According to Sadia and her friends, this is what they do when hanging out with their girlfriends at home. The memory still brings a smile to my face.

Alfadel (middle), a 17-year-old student, is so committed to learning that after school, he and his friends take extra lessons with Umda Tarbosh to improve their English. I could see his eagerness to gain as much knowledge as possible so that he can complete secondary school and achieve his dream of attending university.

Hafsa (right), a 17-year-old student, has an energetic personality and hopes to work as a television reporter or actress. We laughed and laughed as we tested out all of my digital camera’s functions, right before this photo was taken:

I felt welcomed into the lives of these students and grateful that they shared their stories with me. Time and time again, the students said they remained hopeful for the future because they knew American students on the other side of the world were interested in their lives and in supporting their education.

Learn more about these students and how to support education in Goz Amer refugee camp.