Sudan: Boys' Hope Center - Khartoum

SUDAN HOME

LOCATION

Sudan is the largest country in Africa – more than 967,499 sq miles (2.5 million square kilometers) in size – and ranges from vast expanses of desert in the north to regions of tropical forest in the south of the country. It is bordered by no less than nine other countries - Egypt, Libya, Chad, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The capital city of Khartoum is home to 5.7 million people, about 6.7% of the total population, estimated to be about 38 million people.

HISTORY

The Boys’ Hope Center was started in 1994 by a missionary who saw a great need for a place to care for boys living on the streets of Khartoum. Many of these children are refugees who had fled from the south of the country during the civil war. After operating for some time in the grounds of a local church, the Center moved to its current location on the outskirts of the city, where the physical, social, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of more than 200 children are now met. The program became part of the worldwide ministry of Kids Alive International in January 2006.

FACILITIES

The Boys’ Hope Center campus has several buildings that are used for residential care, and a separate school building with five classrooms. There is also a small office. The Center hopes to open vocational training facilities in the near future.

PROGRAMS

The residential program at the Boys’ Hope Center provides for the needs of 40 children between the ages of five and sixteen. These children have been living on the streets and desperately need to experience love and security as well as have their physical needs met.

The Boys’ Hope Center School is located on the premises of the Home, and provides primary education from Kindergarten through Grade Three for some of the residential boys and other children in the neighborhood who would otherwise not receive an education. At present there are almost 100 children registered in this program.

A Drop-In Center on the campus also opens three times a week and gives the opportunity for 70 street children living in the district to come and have a meal, take a shower, and wash their clothes. Activity programs, including Bible studies and other spiritual programs, are also included. This Drop-In Program has made an enormous difference in improving the health of these children and has helped reduce antisocial behavior, i.e., solvent abuse and petty street crime – in the area.

The Boys’ Hope Center is directed by Francis Tombe, a young Sudanese man with a heart for reaching the needs of children-at-risk in Sudan. Francis is also Field Coordinator for all Kids Alive projects in Sudan.