18,000 books head to Sudan to help students keep learning through war
By Charities Correspondent
More than 18,000 brand-new books are being sent to Sudan to help students, researchers and young readers continue learning despite the devastating impact of war.
Book Aid International is sending the books, all donated by UK publishers, to partners including the University of Khartoum, the Sudan Academic Libraries Initiative and Windle Trust International.
The conflict that began in April 2023 has had a huge impact on education across the country. Of the 12.5 million learners enrolled before the war, around nine million are now out of school.
Universities, colleges and libraries have also been badly affected, leaving many students and researchers without access to the books and resources they need.
The new shipment includes higher education and medical texts, which will help students continue their studies and support the recovery of Sudan’s education system in the future.
Wahbi A. Abdalrahman of the Sudan Academic Libraries Initiative said the books would provide a vital link to education and knowledge during the crisis.
“Following the outbreak of the April 2023 war, the country’s library sector has faced unprecedented challenges,” said Wahbi.
“This donation will help strengthen access to knowledge, support teaching and research, and contribute to preserving educational opportunities for students whose studies have been profoundly affected by the ongoing crisis.”
The University of Khartoum will use the books to strengthen its own library collections, while also distributing them to five partner universities elsewhere in Sudan.
Dr Mutasim Elmahadi of the University of Khartoum Library said the donation would benefit students and researchers well beyond the university itself.
“These books will greatly enrich our library collections and support the academic community at the University of Khartoum,” he said.
“We are also committed to distributing books to five other partner universities across Sudan, extending the benefit of this donation to a wider network of students and researchers.”
Good News Post
Books will also be provided to Windle Trust International for its work across Sudan, including with younger readers.
Arkano Ismail Shanna, Country Programme Manager, said books could offer more than just educational resources at a time when so much has been disrupted.
“At a time when access to education has been so severely disrupted, books offer not only knowledge but also hope, opportunity and a pathway to a brighter future,” he said.
Alison Tweed, Chief Executive of Book Aid International, said the charity was grateful to the UK publishers who donated the books.
“We are pleased to be able to support those continuing their work and studies by sending carefully-selected, brand-new books to Sudan,” she said.
“Whenever conflict destroys books and libraries, the people who need access to information most can find themselves cut off from it entirely.”
Book Aid International is now calling on more UK publishers to donate books so it can continue supporting communities whose access to education and information has been disrupted by conflict.
Every donated book can help put knowledge back into the hands of students, medical professionals, researchers and readers in Sudan and around the world.
