The Beginning

This effort to alleviate the suffering of homeless children in Sudan began 25 years ago with a seven year old girl named Widyan who lived in a Sudanese village called Aldyana . Widyan was fortunate because her grandmother was the daughter of the Sharif (a title given to a respected chief or leader). Widyan’s grandmother oversaw a farm that provided ample vegetables, rice, milk and yogurt, which she shared with poor families in the village. Widyan’s job was to deliver the food, an experience that informed her lifelong desire to help those less fortunate. 

At 18, Widyan moved with her family to Khartoum, where she contributed part of her wages to buy food, which her mother would cook. Once again, Widyan’s job was to deliver the food to those in great need. She spent many hours talking with homeless street children.

Widyan married and moved to Germany with her husband, a scientist. Widyan followed her husband back to Germany and  the United States, where she lives now. Before she began her travels, however, she introduced her parents to some of the street kids. Widyan’s mom and dad continue to do what they can to help, sometimes opening their home to as many as 20 children at a time.  Khartoum’s street children, and the girls in particular, still desperately need help. 

Be My Home is Widyan’s way of continuing to help, even though she is thousands of miles away.