Hello, my name is Sara Abbas and I am a Sudanese-American researcher living in Berlin. I am doing this fundraiser for a phenomenal young man who was displaced to Cairo, Egypt by the war in Sudan. I have mentored Mo since May 2023 and know him well. Mo’s education was interrupted by the war which began in his home country in April of last year. He has been out of school for more than a year. Despite losing his home and so much more, he persisted, and has just received admission to Ain Shams College of Engineering in Cairo to continue his education. Problem is they‘ve given him only two weeks to pay the registration fees, something his family can’t afford at the moment. Mo is an incredible young person— after being displaced, his father and he were stranded en route to Egypt, while his mom and younger siblings pushed on ahead to cross the border and seek safety in Egypt. During the months he was unable to join them in Cairo, Mo volunteered to help other displaced people, going to shelters and local emergency rooms. He is passionate about photography, and though could not take his camera when he fled, used his phone to document the experiences of the displaced and the host communities who helped them along the way, as well as the journey by road north in search of safety. If he manages now to pay these registration fees, it will save his spot and buy him some time to collect tuition fees. He wants to open a little photocopying kiosk near the UNHCR in Cairo, where long lines of Sudanese and other refugees wait each day. He sees it as a way of providing a service and at the same time securing money for his spending costs and future university fees, so he is not a burden on his parents.

Practicalities: My goal is to raise the equivalent of $2420, the exact amount requested by the university to pay his fees. Anything in excess of this will be used towards tuition and to help him set up the photocopying kiosk (and pay gofund me and transfer fees). If the amount falls short, and he is unable to pay the fees, the money will still be transferred to him towards a future education fund or setting up his photocopying kiosk to generate money for tuition and living costs

As Mo has no bank account, the money will go to my bank account in Germany and be transferred in full to him in Cairo, Egypt, most likely via Western Union. I will post the transfer confirmation here once done.

Please donate and share as widely as you can. Below is what Mo wrote about himself (and his acceptance letter). Thank you! - Sara

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I am Mohammed Eissa Atta, 18 years old, from Omdurman, Khartoum State, Sudan. I’m also the eldest of my siblings. We left our home because of the war which began in April last year, and which destroyed the city with indiscriminate bombing and horrible violations by both sides fighting. Fearing for our lives, my family left with very little, and headed north, towards the border with Egypt. From northern Sudan, my mother and small siblings crossed to Egypt. My father and I had to wait for some months before we were able to collect enough money to join them. In Cairo, we applied to the UNHCR (the UN’s High Commission for Refugees) to get help, but there are no job opportunities and life has been very difficult. My dream is to continue my education so I can help my parents and siblings. I applied to Ain Shams University and was just accepted, which was joyful news after a year of pain and loss. Studying at the University‘s College of Engineering represents a great opportunity for me to help my family, but I don‘t have the tuition fees and the time I was given to pay is brief. I hope to not lose my opportunity for education. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for any support you can offer. Here is the acceptance letter and breakdown of fees - scroll down for the English.