Notwithstanding the ongoing war, a group of youths in Zalingei town of Central Darfur State are active in organizing forums for learning and reading.
In one of the houses downtown, an initiative was launched to establish the Zalingei Cultural Library which came as the result of a partnership between the Zalingei diaspora youth and some intellectuals and writers, led by the novelist, Estela Gaetano, through her project “Make a Difference with a Book.” Other individuals, including Dr. Hajj Warraq and the Zalingei Chamber of Commerce, have also actively supported the initiative.
The library has been stocked with a collection of remarkable books and references which quickly attracted the public’s attention.
The library also gained special importance during the war, especially after the interruption of communication and Internet services, so it became an appropriate alternative for many young people in Zalingei.
Montasir Ibrahim, one of the library’s pioneers, told Radio Tamazuj that the library represented an opportunity for young people to meet during the war to discuss the country’s affairs and various problems, adding that it was a real addiction to spending leisure time and acquiring knowledge.
“We did not have anything to do during the war but now that we are engaged in an intellectual forum is something great,” he stated.
One of the founders of the Library Cultural Forum, Mohammed Noor Al-Deen, appreciated those using the facility, reading books, and the enlightened people of Zalingei who contributed greatly to the success of the forum.
For his part, Noor Al-Deen praised the great role played by the mayor of Zalingei, Al-Zubair Khamis, and other local leaders in establishing the library. He pointed out that the forum was launched in difficult times but that with the insistence and determination of the library’s patrons, the forum received a great deal of encouragement and turnout to attend its activities.
“In these difficult moments, the library played a significant role in changing our lives,” Noor Al-Deen said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Librarian Israa Morgan, narrates that educating the community about relevant issues, combating hate speech, and promoting the language of dialogue is one of the most important goals of the library.
She added that the combined efforts of the people of Zalingei and those interested in cognitive awareness, in general, have made the library a tangible reality and that it is now open to the public daily for viewing, lending, and other cultural and competitive activities that attract a readership of different age groups and levels.
Since the RSF took over Zalingei some weeks ago, a group of youth initiatives have emerged as evidenced by voluntary services and social and cultural activities to mitigate the effects of war and provide possible assistance in an atmosphere where opportunities for formal government work are limited.