Suha Osman has dedicated countless hours to improving school opportunities for Sudanese children who are refugees in Egypt. With generous support of family and friends, in 2023 she has created an organization, a digital social hub, Nas al Sudan of volunteers whose program “School Supplies for Sudan,” with modest funding, has provided school supplies and learning resources and greatly improved the physical condition of the schools with which they have partnered. Listen to her talk to see how the work of a few his lifted the spirits of hundreds of school-aged children and their teachers and parents displaced from their homeland by the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

Suha Osman, Guest Speaker, September 17, 2025

Rotarian Saeid Tahamtam had the pleasure of introducing Suha who is Donor Services Officer at the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area. Suha was born in Canada to Sudanese parents, and her heritage carries both meaning and inspiration. Her name, Suha, in Arabic, refers to a small, delicate star, one that is subtle, almost hidden, yet admired for its quiet brilliance. That symbolism could not be more fitting. In her work, Suha embodies that same steady light - a presence that may appear gentle, but has a powerful and lasting impact on the people and communities she serves.

In Sudanese culture, there is a practice called Al-Jamʿiyya, where community members pool their resources each month to support one another. It reflects the idea that by lifting each other up, everyone benefits. In many ways, Suha has carried that same tradition into her life, whether through her humanitarian work supporting Sudanese families displaced by war, or through her role with the Community Foundation, where she helps direct resources to where they are most needed. Her parents must be so proud of the woman she has become, and we are just as proud to have her in our community and actively contributing to our international service.

The Setting

The children served by Suha's organization are among five million whose families who have been displaced by what is considered the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the result of 2 ½ years of internal war. In 2023, Suha created the digital hub called Nas al Sudan which provides education about the crisis, hosts discussions, and advocates for and with the Sudanese diaspora. One of its programs is to provide school supplies for pupils and students encamped with millions of refugees. Suha has focussed on several schools in Egypt where she has family connections.

School Supplies for Sudan

Suha led the first project of this program from start to delivery to report. She also prepared resources to guide others in doing similar work.

At the time of her talk, thanks to 1300 donors, $55,000 US had been raised to serve 11 schools in three displacement camps in Sudan and Egypt.

Four full “chapters” of the organization are established and a fifth is under development.

She shared details of a school with which she worked directly in March 2025 in Egypt. She tells a moving story of renovation--improving plumbing, paint, tiling, new chairs, space for teachers to work and store their supplies, whiteboards, and office chairs and podiums for teachers. Backpacks and supplies for children were ones they could enjoy. She shared a video of many happy children singing with joy, a testament to the resilience of them and their families.

In another school, the only outdoor play area was on the roof, so fencing was installed.

Donors are encouraged to spread the word and be advocates.

All work is carefully documented and everything is done in close consultation with the communities served.

Rotary was one of the supporters of some of this work and the work is done very much in keeping with principles that guide all of Rotary's humanitarian work.

Suha's organization is now incorporated, with a board of directors, and is growing around the world.