Opening up a world of education
Children love to learn. If they are denied access to knowledge, we also deny them the opportunity to change their lives for the better.
“Our crops were looted, our vehicles stolen, and we were left with nothing. The danger became constant and people realized it would only get worse. We had no choice but to evacuate our village and flee.”
For Mudathir Yousif, a farmer from Roweina village in South Al Jazirah, leaving his home in December 2023 was the hardest decision of his life. The Gezira Scheme was more than farmland. It was life itself. His heart and soul were bound to the soil of Roweina village, where generations before him had worked the land.
That bond was violently broken in late-December 2023, when conflict swept into Al Jazirah. In a matter of days, Mudathir and his neighbours faced an impossible choice: abandon everything they loved or risk losing their lives.
The return
But Mudathir’s determination to come back never faltered. When stability began to return in March 2025, he was among the first to return. What he found was devastating: the scheme lay in ruins. Yet the soil was still there. The farmers and youth remained. And that was enough to ignite hope.
Together, they decided to start again
As the planting season approached, FAO stepped in. In partnership with Education Above All Foundation, and with the support of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and Gezira Scheme Directorate, FAO distributed 1 000 tonnes of sorghum seeds to 100 000 farming households across all 18 divisions of the scheme.
This critical intervention gave farmers more than seeds. It gave them the chance to rebuild. Once again, they could produce food, feed their families and earn an income.
Despite the grief of displacement and loss, Mudathir’s determination remains unshaken. For him, the way forward is together.
“We left with tears in our eyes and sadness in our hearts. But we return with hope. FAO and its partners have stood with us and together we can make this season a success. We are partners in this challenge.”
Looking ahead
Farmers in Al Jazirah may have lost everything, but they never lost their love for the land. With each season, they are proving that even after devastation, life can return to the soil. For Mudathir and thousands like him, rebuilding is not a question of if - but when.
Disclaimer: The author first published this story in November 2025 on FAO website. Click here to read the original post.
"Humanity will not overcome the immense challenges we face unless we ensure that children get the quality education that equips them to play their part in the modern world." -- HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser
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