Published on: 18 July 2026 10:33:35 Updated: 18 July 2026 10:40:17
Mona: A Symbol of Sudans Working Women
By Mujahid Nasr Al-Din
To passersby, Mona may appear to be just another woman carrying a jerrycan of water through the streets of El Obeid in search of a days income. But anyone who looks beyond the surface will see that she is far more than a water vendor. She has become a symbol of the thousands of Sudanese women who have been driven by economic hardship and humanitarian crises into physically demanding work in order to earn a dignified living.
In a gesture that reflects its humanitarian and community-oriented mission, the **Center for Peace and Development Studies at the University of Kordofan** chose to highlight Monas story—not simply as an individual case deserving sympathy, but as a representation of the reality faced by countless women across Sudan. Guided by the conviction that solving problems begins with understanding their roots, the Centers Director, **Dr. Amal Khalil**, opened a window of hope for a human story that deserves to be told and supported.
Monas experience is shared by many domestic workers, tea vendors, market traders, and countless other women employed in Sudans informal economy. They shoulder multiple burdens, working long hours under difficult conditions for meager incomes, often without social protection or adequate legal safeguards, while bearing the responsibility of supporting their families and raising their children.
The countrys economic crisis, prolonged conflict, and widespread displacement have forced increasing numbers of women into labor-intensive occupations that were never a matter of choice, but rather a necessity imposed by circumstances. Yet Sudanese women continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience, patience, and determination, preserving their dignity despite immense hardship.
Supporting Mona is not merely about helping one woman. It is a message of solidarity with every woman striving to secure a decent life for herself and her family. Womens economic empowerment is not an act of temporary charity; it is a genuine investment in the stability of families and communities, an effective means of reducing poverty, and a step toward strengthening social solidarity and cohesion.
Through this initiative, the Center for Peace and Development Studies has demonstrated that building peace is not confined to conferences or seminars. True peace begins by listening to peoples concerns, standing alongside the most vulnerable members of society, and transforming human stories into initiatives that inspire hope and restore confidence in the community.
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