Celebrating Sudanese Awareness Week

One, two...wait, nope, just one. Yep, that was me counting the number of Sudanese students on Drexel's campus. Yes, there are not a lot of us, but while the number is small, the moments we share are always more than great. I vividly remember toward the end of my first year, my first time running into someone Sudanese on campus.

We took it upon ourselves to highlight all of Sudan, and especially not to forget all its beauty.

I was at a civil discourse event at the Pennoni Honors College where I was paired with the girl across from me for a one-on-one discussion. You would have thought it was scripted — when we both looked up and exchanged a knowing glance, we immediately recognized each other as Sudanese. That's just how Sudanis are connected, regardless of age or any sort of history. But as the war in Sudan continued to unfold, we lost literal connection with our families as WiFi and cellular data were completely shut down. Inspired by the ongoing efforts to uplift the Palestinian community, my Sudanese peers and I decided it was time to act.

While the Sudanese media silenced the voices of our family and friends abroad, we took it upon ourselves to uplift them, right here on campus. We named our initiative Sudanese Awareness Week — a week in February 2024 filled with knowledge, presentations, and a celebration of rich Sudanese culture. We took it upon ourselves to highlight all of Sudan, and especially not to forget all its beauty. It is easy to take a situation like the war on Sudan and immediately associate the country with the atrocities its people are facing, so it was crucial we presented and spoke on the Sudan we know and love as well. A bake sale fundraiser and two beautifully crafted teach-ins later, I finally now know five Sudanese students on campus. While that number has increased, I hope your awareness of Sudan has grown as well. So be curious, be proactive and, like a true Sudani, stay connected.