Leadership Amid Crisis in Sudan is not just a story of conflict, but of resilience and renewal. When war shattered Sudan, it didn’t just halt work and routines; it rerouted lives. For Albashir Adam Ahmed Dahab (ALP’25), a political science graduate turned journalist and Arabic language instructor, the conflict meant the end of income and stability. What remained was purpose.
Growing up active in student leadership and community media, Albashir believed words could move people. But in a country at war, he realized that real change also requires equipping people, especially young people, to lead it. Albashir shared one of his guiding principles:
If the plan fails, don’t stop. Be patient, shift direction. There’s always another door.
From Reporting the News to Building New Futures
“I chose journalism because amplifying marginalized voices is a moral duty,” Albashir says. As violence escalated, he faced a hard truth: telling stories wasn’t enough. He began designing trainings that gave youth practical tools to act (leadership, critical thinking, and soft skills), so they could become part of the solution.
Founding Active Youth Cultural Development Group
In the heart of the crisis, Albashir launched Active Youth Cultural Development Group: a grassroots effort empowering war-affected and displaced youth across Sennar, White Nile, and Kassala. Without funding or formal registration, he built partnerships with universities and local training centers and got to work.
Workshops blend practical skill-building with healing through culture. Music, theater, and storytelling transform shelters and classrooms into safe spaces where young people process trauma, rediscover agency, and reconnect with hope.
An Impact That Replicates Itself
In times of war, psychological healing matters just as much as skills.
One training in Kassala still anchors him. After completing the program, a group of youth organized their own psychosocial and arts sessions for children in displacement centers. Watching participants become leaders (and then mentors) proved the model’s power to multiply impact even in low-resource settings.
So far, more than 5,000 young men and women have participated in the trainings and workshops Albashir facilitated across Sennar, White Nile, Kassala, and the Red Sea. What makes him proudest is not only the number, but the transformation: many graduates are now delivering the same trainings within their own communities and stepping into leadership roles. He reflected, “I still remember how discouraged and affected by the war some of them were when I first met them. Today, they are moving forward with renewed purpose.”
Finding a Global Lens With Aspire
As an alum of the Aspire Leaders Program, along with the Nasser Fellowship for International Leadership and the AMEL Middle East Leadership Program, Albashir reframed what leadership could look like under pressure.
“From Aspire, I learned that leadership isn’t about titles, it’s responsibility toward others,” he reflects. Listening first, then acting, guided how he led small teams with limited resources but a shared purpose.
What’s Next: Scale, Partnerships, and a Digital Platform
Looking ahead, Albashir aims to expand training to more conflict-affected regions and launch a digital knowledge platform so youth leaders can share curricula, tips, and micro-innovations across communities. He’s actively cultivating partnerships with local and international organizations to sustain and scale the work, while keeping programs low-cost and community-led.
His advice to peers in crisis?
“Start now. Don’t wait for perfect conditions, start with what you have. True leaders create opportunities even in the darkest times.”
