Pilot Study: El-Azaza El-Rawaj Village, Eastern Sudan

EDUCATION | Omer, a young man from El-Azaza El-Rawaj, shared his journey with the UNIFIED team. Despite growing up without academic support, a conducive learning environment, or access to basic medication, he persevered—completing high school and earning a degree in psychology. Yet, like many graduates in rural Sudan, he remains unemployed, with few opportunities to apply his skills or serve his community.

In this heartfelt interview, Omer reflects on the challenges he and his peers faced as children pursuing education. Each day, they walked for hours under the scorching sun, without food or water, to reach a distant school. The exhausting commute left them unable to focus, and many struggled to understand lessons. Few passed; most dropped out.

This footage, shared with the UNIFIED team, captures Omer’s longing for a different future—one where schools are closer to home, and younger generations have a real chance at learning, growing, and thriving.

ENVIRONMENT | The village faces compounding environmental challenges, including resource degradation, vulnerability to climate change, and limited access to clean energy. The lack of water and sanitation infrastructure further impacts hygiene, health, and productivity—deepening the cycle of poverty and environmental stress.  

LIVELIHOOD | Agriculture remains the primary source of income and food security, yet it is constrained by low productivity, climate shocks, displacement, and environmental degradation. These factors contribute to widespread poverty, malnutrition, and economic vulnerability—especially among women and youth.