Umrakoba Refugee Camp in eastern Sudan houses over 40,000 refugees. Yared arrived here in 2021 after fleeing the conflict in Tigray in neighbouring Ethiopia. In his adopted home, the 19-year-old now faces a second crisis. Resources in the camp are stretched thin, with limited access to clean water or healthcare.
“I escaped violence at home only to find hardship here,” Yared says. “But we adapt. We survive.”
Yared is 1 of some 5 million refugees in Sudan. Worldwide, around 50 million young people like him have been forcibly displaced. Despite the instability he has been caught up in, Yared’s focus remains unwavering: “Education is my priority. Without it, we have no future.”
The daily struggle to learn
Yared’s school day begins at 7am. He and his more than 100 classmates study in shifts in a room built for just 30 students. Students share benches, while 10 peers share a single textbook. There is no electricity for evening study, and trained teachers are scarce.
“Sometimes we sit under acacia trees for lessons,” Yared explains. “When it rains, classes stop. But I keep going because education is our way out of this situation.”
Now 19, Yared is among many young refugees in Sudan who lost years of schooling due to conflict and displacement. He is catching up on missed education, determined to make the most of this second chance.
His determination defies global trends: 75% of adolescents living as refugees miss secondary school.
Islamic Relief’s interventions have helped over 156,000 vulnerable people in Sudan since we began providing humanitarian aid to Ethopian refugees in Gedaref State. This includes distributing 5,000 school kits annually, rehabilitating water points serving 12,000 people, and constructing learning shelters. “Without their support,” Yared says, “many of us would have dropped out.”
Music as an anchor
After classes, Yared devotes 2 hours to practising his guitar. He plays Ethiopian folk songs and teaches chords to children. Islamic Relief’s youth programme provides a space for these sessions.
“Music helps me process everything,” Yared says. “When I play, others gather. For a while, we forget we are in a camp.” His dream is to compose songs about peace: “One day, I will use music to unite people, not just here but everywhere.”
Life in Umrakoba is defined by scarcity. Yared’s family shares a tent. Water rations cover only basic needs, and healthcare is a 2-hour walk away. But the psychological toll runs deeper.
“I miss my home in Tigray, our farm, our neighbours,” Yared says. “Here, we are seen as a burden. Sudan has its own war; refugees become invisible.
“We want to return to Ethiopia as rebuilders, not [remain here] as permanent refugees.”
His words underscore a harsh truth: 75% of Africa’s refugees are living in neighbouring countries engulfed by other crises.
Giving a voice to young people
As we prepare to mark International Youth Day, Yared’s appeal is clear:
First, prioritise peace. “Stop the wars in Ethiopia, Sudan, and beyond. No one flees home by choice.”
Second, establish proper funding so refugees can continue their education. “We need trained teachers, digital tools, and electricity to study at night.”
Third, include young people in talks to establish solutions. “We understand these challenges best. Let us help design programmes.”
Islamic Relief’s advocacy aligns with Yared’s vision. In Umrakoba,Islamic Relief works with young people to identify needs and shape projects, from water access to psychosocial support. By empowering young refugees as educators, health promoters, and community advocates, we foster the ‘bridges of solidarity’ envisioned by the theme of this year’s International Youth Day.
Looking ahead with resolve
For now, Yared’s time follows a schedule: studying by daylight, teaching guitar at dusk, volunteering at the camp clinic on weekends. In the future he wants to sit university entrance exams. “I will study agriculture… When peace returns, I’ll help rebuild Ethiopia’s food systems.”
His resilience mirrors a broader truth: Young refugees are not passive victims of circumstance. They are students, artists, and future leaders whose potential risks remaining untapped.
“We have dreams. With education and peace, we’ll achieve them. But we cannot do it alone.”
This International Youth Day, find out more about how young people like Yared are helping change the world, and join in the conversation at #InternationalYouthDay on our social media platforms.
