Ibrahim's story

“The best part of my day is going to school,” says 12-year-old Ibrahim Adam. It might not sound like a typical thing for a 12-year-old to say but, ironically, being forced to move to the Abu Shouk camp in North Darfur has given Ibrahim the chance to get an education for the first time.

"Life is difficult here," he says, "but I am happy most of the time because I can go to school - in my village there were no schools."

“At school, I get to do my two favourite things: learn to write, and play with my friends. If I can’t write then I will not be able to become a doctor, and if I can’t see my friends then life would be very boring.”

Around 2.5 million people have fled their homes in Darfur in the last five years. Most now live in large, overcrowded camps. Abu Shouk is home to more than 50,000 people.

But as the conflict continues and more and more people arrive in camps, basic resources like food, water and firewood are becoming increasingly scarce. Militia attacks and disease remain very real threats.

The promised UN peacekeeping force needs to be fully funded and deployed urgently to help turn this situation around.

While people in Abu Shouk wait for this to happen, however, they try to create the best life they can. For Ibrahim, this means focusing on studying.

“At school we learn maths, and how to read and write in Arabic,” he says. “We have started some English classes as well. I know how to say ‘hello’ and the names of the animals we have in the camp, such as goats and donkeys.”

“I don’t like maths but I like writing very much,” he smiles. “Maybe one day I will write a book!”

Missing old friends

Ibrahim arrived in the camp three years ago, with his parents and three sisters.

“I didn’t know why we left and I didn’t want to go,” he remembers, “but later I found out the nearby village was attacked and my uncle’s family was killed.”

He still sees several of his old friends, as they moved to the same camp and now study together.

But there are others who he hasn’t seen for years. “I don’t know what happened to them,” he says. “I hope they are OK and I will see them again soon.”

“Abdallah was my best friend – I don’t have any brothers but he was like family and we used to do everything together. I haven’t seen him since the day we left.” 

Moving schools

When Ibrahim is not at school, he helps his parents to earn money by making bricks from mud.

“I would rather be in school or playing,” he admits, “but at least my friends are also here.”

He knows, however, that if he wants to carry on studying, he’ll soon face a difficult choice.

“At the moment I go to school in the camp, but the schools here are only for basic classes,” he explains. “Soon I will have to go to school in the town if I want to continue to learn.

“I would prefer to stay here instead, because it can be dangerous for boys walking into town. It is safer to get a bus but that costs money every day.”

It’s a story that sums up a lot about the difficulties people face in Darfur.

There’s the fear of attack and the struggle to make ends meet.

But there’s also the desire to build a better future – a desire which is rarely far from people’s minds. 

Learn more

Darfur interactive map

Further information on Oxfam's response to the crisis in Darfur and Chad