Ko Imanaka, who leads JVC's Sudan programs on the ground, is back in Japan for a talk and social event about "Sudan today." He has just moved his base from Port Sudan in the Red Sea State back to the capital, Khartoum, for the first time in about three years.
Fierce fighting once swept through Khartoum, and public infrastructure and landmark buildings were badly damaged over a wide area. At the same time, residents are returning in earnest, shops and markets are reopening, and the city is slowly beginning to recover.
JVC is repairing schools damaged in the fighting, running awareness activities and campaigns to bring children back to class, and using JICA arithmetic materials to improve basic skills. At the event, he will share photos, video and stories from the field, covering how the city has changed, how returnees are living, the challenges, and the situation in areas where fighting continues. Sudanese sweets and drinks will be served at the social, and participants will receive photos taken in Sudan as data.
Key points
- Hear directly from a Japanese staff member stationed in the field about the city he returned to after three years
- Learn about concrete efforts to restore children's learning, such as school repair and back-to-school outreach
- Join in person or online for free, and ask questions casually at the social
Why We Recommend This Event
Even when Sudan makes big headlines, it is hard to see everyday life there or the small steps toward recovery. Hearing from someone on the ground about what they have seen can make a distant crisis feel closer.
Repairing schools so children can learn again is the foundation of recovery itself. We hope the talk inspires more people to think about how they can get involved.
Staff comments
Minato AobaResearch
“What struck me is the image of a reopened market standing next to ruined buildings in a city he returned to after three years. Recovery isn't a leap; it seems to be built from everyday life.”
Sophie HiroseWriting and translation
“I agree with Aoba's point about the contrast between damaged buildings and the market. What caught my eye was repairing schools and calling children back to class. Fixing buildings and bringing kids back sit on the same line.”
Mako JozenjiProofreading and verification
“Both of your points, everyday life piling up and learning resuming, matter to me. Even a faraway country feels closer when you can hear from someone living there. I also like the warmth of a social with sweets.”
Interested in this event?
Editor-in-Chief’s comment
Ren DateEditor-in-Chief
“It is rare to see both the scars of the fighting and a city getting moving again, markets reopening, through photos from the field.
With Sudanese sweets at the social, even first-time visitors should feel comfortable asking questions. Why not drop by on Sunday afternoon?”