Case studies: former SOS child Khartoum, Sudan

When she came to SOS Children's Village Khartoum, Sudan, she was skinny, weak and underdeveloped. When she had recovered this part of her health, she got deeply into behavioural problems. Now she is happily married, has three children and is sort of a celebrity at the village.

Everyone loves Hala

"She was skinny and weak when she came to our village. This two-year-old girl could not walk or talk. She was malnourished, underdeveloped and seemed to have little chance of surviving." That is the impression SOS mother Om Kalam had when she first saw Hala, a toddler who was to join Om Kalam's family at SOS Children's Village Khartoum in Sudan in 1983. Hala seemed as though she was a sickly child who would never be like other children.

Thanks to lots of care, Hala's health began to improve. "She started walking and talking when she was around four years old," Mama Om Kalam remembers, "and she made up for all the time she lost with her naughtiness!" She was an extremely charming child, with a beautiful smile and a playful naughtiness that endeared her to everyone at the SOS Children's Village even as a very small child.

But the real problems began when Hala started to attend nursery school at SOS Children's Village Khartoum. What was previously considered nothing but childish mischievousness started becoming a behavioural problem. Hala was hyperactive and aggressive, she used to hit other children and cause an enormous amount of disorder in class. She was an unruly child who was impossible to control and the whole SOS Children's Village did not know what to do with Hala.

Changing behaviour

Jihad Madany, the psychologist at SOS Children's Village Khartoum, started working at the village when Hala was ten years old. Hala was sent to Jihad whose mission was trying to solve her problems and helping her change her behaviour.

"Hala had already been to a psychiatrist before, but she never really spoke to anyone or trusted anyone," Jihad remembers, "She was the most charming child ever, she had an amazing sense of humour and an adorable smile. Slowly we began to build a trusting friendship. I had her consider me an older sister, and she started telling me everything, knowing I would not judge her, but would try to help and guide her."

Jihad and Hala's friendship grew over the years. Hala would go to Jihad and tell her of any mischievousness she had been up to. When Hala got into trouble in school, she sought counsel from Jihad, speaking to her with complete honesty. When she grew a little older, Jihad used to invite Hala to her home. Jihad's mother and sisters considered Hala part of the family. Even today Jihad's mother remembers Hala with fondness.

One day, when Hala was around 15, she got into a major problem at school. She was suspended and had to go to a correctional facility for young girls. There she was meant to learn discipline and work hard, while not being allowed to go out as freely as she liked. This experience was the turning point of Hala's life.

"I couldn't take it after a few weeks, so I ran away with two other girls," Hala says, "We hitched a ride on a truck. I went to my elder sister's home in Omdurman, where everyone was shocked to see me." Her SOS sister notified the village that Hala was staying with her and her family, and was safe. Taj El-Arefeen, director of SOS Children's Village Khartoum spoke to Hala and it was decided she would stay with her sister's family, but remain under the supervision of the SOS Children's Village.

A strong character

"All the co-workers at SOS Children's Village Khartoum wanted her best and everyone cooperated to help her through to become a normal adult," Jihad says, "She was part of our family, and we had to stick with her for better or worse, and support her with every means possible."

Their support triumphed, and Hala eventually got engaged to Yasser, another former SOS youth from a different SOS family. "I warned him when he first suggested marrying Hala," Taj El-Arefeen says, "I told him Hala is not an easy person to get along with, and he himself had known her since childhood. But Yasser said it was either Hala or no one." When Hala was 19 she got married to Yasser.

Hala's life, personality and behaviour changed completely once she got married. Her strong character has helped her through many hardships, such as her husband's job as a building contractor which demands that they move frequently.

Hala now has three children, a girl and two boys. "She is one of the most devoted mothers I have ever known," Jihad says, "She uses her amazing energy to care for her kids and to give them everything possible."

Taj El-Arefeen says, "Hala is perhaps one of the greatest success stories I have come across at SOS Children's Village Khartoum. I am proud of her. She and her husband still come to visit us. When I ask Yasser how things are going, he declares he could not have found a better wife!"

Hala is very popular at the village; everybody knows her story and all the major problems she had to overcome, and everybody seems to sympathise with her. Her popularity even led one of the co-workers who used to organise activities for the children to write a song about Hala. Until this day, Hala remembers all the words, which start with, "Everyone loves Hala. We all want what is best for you, Hala..."

SOS Children has been working in Sudan since 1978 and provides a loving home to orphaned and abandoned children at two villages; Khartoum and Malakal. Around 200 children have been given a family for life at these villages and a further 7,000 have been supported in the community through projects such as SOS Schools, SOS Social Centres and SOS Emergency Relief Programmes.

To sponsor an orphan in Sudan you can sponsor a child