Sudanese Organisation for Non-violence and Development (SONAD)

SONAD seeks to promote active non-violence, to raise the capacity of young people, IDPs and other marginalised groups, and to build on widespread examples of good inter-religious relations as a means to peace.

Overview

Sudanese Organisation for Non-violence and Development (SONAD) was registered with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Khartoum, under the registration NO 001376. SONAD is one of the oldest non-profit making organisations in Sudan, promoting active non-violence and with experience of non-violent action. It is founded on the belief that just, peaceful democratic societies are best built by people with political and civil consciousness, using non-violent methods, and are the joint responsibility of civil society and government.

It was originally known as Concerned Youth, then Youth for Human Rights and Democracy (YOHURIDE) and then finally SONAD. It began in 1994 with a group of friends from the south at the University of Juba, led by Kennet Fanon before Light Wilson Aganwa took over in 1999, and was based on their experience of good relationships between Muslims and Christians in the south. They were determined to resist the labelling of the conflict between the north and the south as a religious conflict, but felt that young people were marginalised in decision-making processes. In less than a year, the organisation was so successful that it quickly took on responsibility in raising awareness amongst the IDPs and advocating non-violent resistance to government demolition of IDP homes.

SONAD's members come from different churches, mostly from the south, but with members throughout Sudan. In 2006 SONAD aims to broaden its membership to include people from Arab communities in north Sudan. Most of SONAD's facilitators come from universities and the government institutions, though by training its own members SONAD hopes to phase out its reliance on such institutions.

The organisation's overall aim is to work with IDPs and marginalised people at grassroots level to improve their situation, including building skills in non-violent action. SONAD believes that the conflict has been miscast as a religious conflict and that it is vital to reinforce the good relations that exist between Muslims and Christians in the south, and among IDPs from those communities and from Sudan as a whole. In order to achieve this, SONAD's objctives are as follows:

• to pursue and strengthen social and cultural ties amongst the members of the organisation;
• to inculcate a spirit of patriotism, non-violence and democracy in the Sudanese communities;
• to create and deliver social, cultural and educational services and to inculcate a spirit of peace, unity and good governance in civil society;
• to provide livelihoods through a joint and sustainable development.

Over the past five years, SONAD has organised a number of workshops in non-violence, peacebuilding, gender and human rights; a series of School of Democracy cycles; a fact-finding mission in Darfur; and meetings with non-violence organisations from Sweden, Palestine and Israel. It has also developed a three year strategic and one year operational plan. In 2004/5, 853 people were involved in SONAD activities.

The organisation discovered a lot of ignorance regarding human rights, the practice of democracy at the local and national levels, and the existence of non-violence as an academic subject or even, among some tribes, as an alternative to conflict. It found that involving people at the grassroots level in order to identify immediate needs, concerns, attitudes and aspirations is essential, and that communities need to help themselves actively.

What services are provided?

Training, workshops, lobbying, consultation and sensitisation.

Geographical area of operation

Northern Sudan - Khartoum; South Sudan - Juba, Wau, Malakal, Southern Kordofan and Nuba Mountains etc.

Funding resources

Swedish Mission Council (through Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation); German Development Service (DED)/Khartoum; membership and subscription fees.

What further information would you like?

I would appreciate information on funding sources, training opportunities and linking with other organisations.

What new contacts would you like to make?

Peace Direct, War Resistance International (WRI)/UK and International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR)/Holland, among others.

Associated Organisations

Sudan Council of Churches (SCC), UNDP, University of Juba (Centre for Peace Studies), University of Khartoum (Institute of Study of Public Administration and Study of Federalism), Sudan Self-Help Foundation (SSF), Sudan Catholic Bishop's Conference (SCBC), Province of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS), Dioceses of Lui and Mundri, Law Offices of Advocate John Simon Yor, Civil Society Network/Khartoum. Arch Diocese of Khartoum, Gender Centre, Alternative Violence Project, Eve Society for Women Development, Sudanese Organisation for Human and Rural Development, Department of Sociology University of Juba/Khartoum etc.