A Baobab tree near the El Shereif refugee camp.

This morning we drove to the El Shereif Camp to see the OBI/Humedica school and clinic. The camp is a 25 minute drive southwest of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, and is located on a small rise in the desert.

As you drive towards El Shereif , you can see it from a long way off. The desert is featureless and barren, other than some scattered brush and the occasional Baobab tree.

The Baobab is a massive tree, sometimes 30’ in diameter, which rises majestically over the desert. Despite scarcity of water, Baobab trees are said to survive for as long as 2,000 years. The cork-like, sinewy trunk defies description. I wanted to get out and stand by the tree, but the driver warned me that we were in a security zone that forbade leaving the vehicle.

Legends abound regarding the age and origin of these desert-dwelling giants. The story I hear most often is that the devil pulled the first Baobab tree out by the roots and re-planted it upside down.

Another legend says that Baobabs are thrown down from paradise, and like spears, pierce the earth, leaving only the roots exposed. I would rather believe that God designed a tree to thrive in the desert’s furnace, store enormous quantities of water during rainy season, and produce white blossoms as large as diner plates and giant, gourd-like fruits.

Birds, monkeys, lizards and snakes make their homes in these giant trees often called the "Tree of Life," but for refugees of Darfur’s wars, the tree can only offer shade.

Horan meets with Ali, Humedica's construction supervisor for the medical clinics and schools.

There are about 14,000 refugees living at El Shereif . OBI’s participation there is in funding the school which accommodates 1,200 students plus 250 kindergartners.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a Sudanese named Ali who works for Humedica running construction of the schools and clinics, as well as acting as a liaison between camp sheiks and Humedica leadership.

Ali was wearing a bright, white jalabia (long, white robe) and white turban. He spoke perfect English and I learned later that he has a Masters degree in English and is anxious to secure a Ph.D when the conflict ends.

Horan and Humedica founder, Wolfgang Gross, talk to a young boy recovering from tuberculosis.

Ali took us into the school yard, where six tall men dressed like him were waiting. The men were representatives of the El Shereif Parent-Teacher Association. Much like PTA members in the U.S., they were very interested in the quality of education that their children were receiving.

The group was anxious to speak with me about the need for making the school bigger and hiring more teachers to accommodate the burgeoning camp population.

They explained how the OBI school was rated number one out of the nine camp schools in the Nyala area, and that in order to maintain that degree of excellence, we should consider expanding facilities and adding to the existing 40 teachers. I agreed that there was a pressing need and promised that we would discuss the issue and report back very soon.

"When we return to our villages we will have only one good thing to take home from this camp – the education of our children," said a PTA member.

I was struck by the passion in these men’s voices as they explained how important it was for their children to get a good education and how much they appreciated the school. One man, his eyes misting up, told me this: "We will not live in this camp forever. When we return to our villages we will have only one good thing to take home from this camp – the education of our children."

As I walked away, I thought to myself how very strange it seemed to have attended a PTA meeting in the middle of a refugee camp.

Sadly, too few Americans realize that the people in Sudan are not much different than the people in Peoria. The differences are cosmetic only. Our hearts are all the same color and yearn for the same things; long, healthy lives for ourselves and better lives for our children. Operation Blessing is helping some of the people of Sudan do just that.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

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