Please share with us about your background and role as a sudanese grassroots, community-led network that has become the backbone of humanitarian response amid war, displacement and state collapse in your country?
As a Sudanese grassroots, community led network, we emerged from neighbourhoods, villages, and local initiatives that refused to collapse under the weight of war, displacement, and the breakdown of state institutions. Our background is rooted in volunteerism and mutual aid ordinary citizens organizing emergency response rooms, youth committees, women led groups, and local coordination bodies that stepped in when formal systems failed. What began as small neighbourhood efforts quickly grew into a nationwide web of solidarity, driven by a deep commitment to protect civilians, deliver life saving assistance, and uphold the dignity of our communities during one of Sudan’s darkest chapters.Today, we serve as the backbone of humanitarian response in areas where international access is restricted or impossible. Our role spans rapid needs assessments, medical and food distribution, civilian evacuation, shelter support, conflict sensitive communication, and accountability to affected people. We operate with agility, legitimacy, and intimate local knowledge, enabling us to reach frontline communities with speed and trust. Despite limited resources and immense risks, we continue to bridge the humanitarian gap, advocate for civilians’ rights, and sustain the social fabric of Sudan through community driven action.
How was being recognised as Right Livelihood Award 2025 and how did it help with your activities and mission to boost urgent and long-term social change using mutual-aid principles?
Being recognised with the Right Livelihood Award 2025 was both an affirmation of our struggle and a protective spotlight on the lifesaving work of Sudan’s grassroots mutual aid networks. For us, the award was not only a symbol of global solidarity but also a moment when the world finally acknowledged the courage, sacrifice, and organizational strength of ordinary Sudanese volunteers who have carried the weight of humanitarian response amid state collapse and ongoing mass displacement. It elevated our story from the margins of a neglected crisis to an international platform, giving legitimacy to community led action as a powerful model of resilience and social justice. The recognition has strengthened our mission in tangible ways. It expanded our access to allies, resources, and advocacy channels that help sustain and scale our operations. The global visibility offered by the award has provided a layer of protection for grassroots actors working under extreme insecurity, while also opening doors for partnerships that support both urgent relief and long term transformation. Most importantly, it reinforced our commitment to mutual aid principles solidarity, local ownership, transparency, and collective care showing that communities themselves can be the drivers of structural social change. Through this recognition, we have been better positioned to amplify civilian voices, sustain community resilience, and push for a future where Sudan’s people not armed actors shape the path to peace and recovery.
What is the current situation in your country and how are you benefiting with all this visibility? How could we support your cause?
Sudan is currently facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with violence, displacement, hunger, and the collapse of state institutions affecting nearly every aspect of life. As basic services deteriorate and millions are forced from their homes, community led networks like ours have become the main providers of emergency assistance, protection, and local coordination. Despite working under constant insecurity and with extremely limited resources, we continue to deliver lifesaving support because we are embedded in the neighbourhoods, villages, and communities most affected by the war. The visibility we’ve gained through international recognition, global media attention, and solidarity from partners has strengthened our ability to operate. It gives our volunteers a measure of protection, increases trust from external partners, and opens doors for funding and technical support that help us scale our mutual aid model. Your support can amplify this impact by advocating for humanitarian, sharing our story, and providing flexible resources that allow us to respond quickly to needs on the ground. Standing with us helps sustain our work and strengthens our long term mission to protect civilians, uphold dignity, and drive community led social change in Sudan.
What is your opinion on the importance of human rights education in the field of rights and specifically in helping to tackle the challenges to the rights you care for in your actions?
Human rights education is essential because it builds the knowledge, confidence, and collective awareness that communities need to defend their dignity, demand accountability, and resist abuse. In a context like Sudan where war, displacement, and the erosion of state institutions have left people exposed to violations human rights education provides a foundation for understanding what protections individuals are entitled to and how to claim them. It transforms rights from abstract principles into practical tools that communities can use to challenge discrimination, safeguard vulnerable groups, and push back against impunity. For our work as a grassroots, mutual aid network, human rights education is directly tied to the challenges we face every day; protecting civilians, advocating for access to humanitarian aid, documenting abuses, and ensuring community led decision making. By equipping volunteers and local leaders with knowledge of rights frameworks, we strengthen their ability to act safely, ethically, and effectively in crisis settings. It also empowers communities to hold armed actors and authorities accountable, promotes nonviolent problem solving, and reinforces the values of solidarity and justice at the heart of our mission. Ultimately, human rights education is not just an add on, it is a tool of survival, resilience, and long-term social transformation.
What are the most important challenges ahead in the field of Human Rights and Democracy in the world? Could educational programmes like ours at the Global Campus of Human Rights contribute to create a safe space for discussion on these challenges?
I don’t know about the whole world, but in Africa and especially in Sudan the most urgent challenges in the field of human rights and democracy are rooted in conflict, authoritarianism, and the collapse of public institutions. Communities are facing widespread violence, displacement, hunger, and shrinking civic space, while activists and local responders work under severe insecurity. The breakdown of accountability mechanisms has left civilians exposed to abuses, and the weakening of democratic processes makes it harder for people to participate in shaping their political future. These challenges are intensified by economic inequality, digital repression, and the lack of safe platforms for honest public dialogue.
In this context, educational programmes like those offered by the Global Campus of Human Rights can play a critical role. They provide a safe, reflective space where practitioners, students, and community leaders can openly discuss these realities without fear. Such programmes help build deeper understanding of rights frameworks, strengthen analytical and advocacy skills, and foster connections across regions and backgrounds by creating an environment for thoughtful conversation and shared learning, they support those of us working on the front lines to imagine solutions, build solidarity, and advance the principles of justice, dignity, and democracy in places where they are most under threat.
Could you give a message to the students, professors, alumni, partners and staff of the Global Campus of Human Rights?
I want to extend my deepest gratitude for the commitment you bring to the struggle for justice, dignity, and human rights. Your work reminds us that even in the most difficult moments whether in Sudan or in any part of the world there are communities of people who refuse to accept silence, indifference, or oppression as the final word. The knowledge you build, the debates you host, and the solidarity you foster all contribute to protecting those whose voices are at risk of being erased by conflict or authoritarian power. Your dedication gives strength to frontline actors like us. When you amplify our stories, challenge harmful narratives, and hold space for honest reflection, you help create a global ecosystem where human rights defenders are not isolated but supported. Please continue cultivating spaces for courage, learning, and dialogue. The world needs your curiosity, your integrity, and your insistence that human rights belong to everyone even in the midst of war and collapse. Thank you for standing with communities like ours, and for shaping a future grounded in humanity and hope.
For more information contact our Communications and Press Offices:
Elisa Aquino – Isotta Esposito
pressoffice@gchumanrights.org - communications@gchumanrights.org
Read interviews and updates in our seasonal digital Global Campus of Human Rights Magazine to be informed about the latest News, Events and Campaigns with our local and international unique community of donors, partners and friends.
#GCHumanRights
#GCHumanRightsPress
#GCHumanRightsMagazine