Professor Al-Shifaa Abdel Qader “The Icon of the Nile” Who Confronted War with Productivity and Action| Sudanow Magazine

Cairo (Sudanow)

At moments when the maps of nations are torn apart, women rise who rearrange chaos and turn it back into “life.” Professor Al-Shifaa Abdel Qader Hassan is not merely an academic name emerging from Masid Wad Issa—a beacon of Qur’anic memorization and a flame of culture and knowledge—but a profound scientific and human experience whose impact stretched from arenas of learning to UNESCO platforms. During the war, her journey transformed into a torch of giving and tireless activity. She mobilized her knowledge, expertise, and effort to support Sudanese families weighed down by the consequences of war in Egypt, fully aware that when knowledge is coupled with responsibility, it becomes an act of survival rather than a mere achievement.

Between her recent honor by the Isnad Organization at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, and the training workshops filled with the scent of Sudanese perfumes and the hum of jewelry-making machines, this conversation took place—one that blends the generosity of a seasoned expert with the compassion of a resilient mother.

A Rich Academic and Professional Journey

Professor Al-Shifaa recounts her beginnings with a passion unextinguished by the scars of war:
“My roots are from Masid Wad Issa. I was born in Al-Sajana, but the Masid is my true love.”

She began her professional career as a middle-school teacher in the early 1980s, carrying a devotion to knowledge and a mission of education. With steady determination, she ascended the academic ladder until she became a professor of educational rehabilitation. She earned a Bachelor’s degree with honors in English Language, Islamic Education, and Fine Arts from the University of Wadi Al-Nil; a Master’s degree in Education, Curricula, and Teaching Methods from the International University of Africa; and a PhD in Educational Philosophy and Curricula from Sudan University of Science and Technology. She also obtained a Master’s degree in Translation, in addition to specialized training courses in international organizations and computer technologies—shaping a personality that combines intellectual diversity with practical expertise.

Titles were never her ultimate goal. Professor Al-Shifaa held numerous prominent leadership positions, including former Director of the UNESCO Chair for Women in Science and Technology, Dean of the Institute for Family and Community Development, and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Education at Sudan University of Science and Technology. She also served as a Community Education Consultant for UNESCO’s Khartoum Office and as a Consultant for Agro-Processing Industries at the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development.

After assuming the deanship of the Institute for Family and Community Development and managing the UNESCO Chair for Women, she made a deliberate decision to transfer knowledge beyond university walls. She explains:
“At Sudan University, we delivered knowledge to local communities in a simple way. Eighteen thousand women benefited from our programs—and I consider that eighteen thousand Sudanese families who gained their right to knowledge and productivity.”

Specialized Expertise in International Development Fields

Professor Al-Shifaa’s ambitions were not confined to academic halls. She became a national reference in shaping educational and developmental policies for international organizations. She contributed as a national expert with the World Bank in the Basic Education Reform Project (BERP), and in the project to revise curricula through a “gender-sensitive and conflict-sensitive” lens.

Her influence extended to UNESCO’s Beirut Office, where she developed a roadmap for educating out-of-school children. She also worked with the African Union on defining African teacher competencies and drafting a protocol for teacher mobility across African states. Additionally, she designed an encyclopedia of agro-processing industries for the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development.

Alongside this professional richness, she assumed senior leadership roles: after managing the UNESCO Chair for Women, she directed the UNESCO Chair for School Health, headed the Quality Center at Sudan International University, and presided over Al-Ghazali Center for Research and Translation at the Afro-Asian University. Today, this journey is crowned by her presidency of the “Women’s Aid for Peace and Development” Organization in Sudan.

The Documentation Trilogy: From the Kingdom of Kush to the Digital Age

Al-Shifaa does not limit herself to fieldwork; she documents for the future through three foundational educational books. Her book “The Development of Girls’ Education in Sudan from Ancient Times to the Digital Age” traces the journey from the Kingdom of Kush to e-learning. This is followed by “Integrated Education Based on Community Development” and “Rural Education and School Farming.” Together, these works document Sudan’s educational trajectory and highlight the importance of community-based education.

With the conviction of a scholar who has left a clear educational imprint, she asserts:
“Sudanese women have reached educational levels that surpass men in some specializations, but what is missing is media coverage that reflects this excellence.”

Egypt… Laboratories of Ambition Amid the Rubble of War

After arriving in Egypt and settling there due to the war, Professor Al-Shifaa launched the “Entrepreneurial Kitchen” initiative, which transformed authentic Sudanese products—such as Hibiscus, Tebaldi, and Doum—into sweets that successfully competed in Egyptian markets.

She speaks enthusiastically about “business incubators”:
“We implemented 23 training courses. We did not stop at training; we established incubators for soap and dairy production. The organization provides the equipment, while women manage their budgets and distribute profits.”

Currently, Dr. Al-Shifaa is elevating the experience to a professional level by training women in feasibility studies to ensure the sustainability of their small projects.

Her role within the Women’s Aid for Peace and Development Organization is equally significant. She has trained thousands of women in recycling clothing waste, producing sweets, baked goods, incense, dairy products, and soap. Training programs also expanded to include Traditional dress (Thobe), psychosocial support, and the management of small and micro-enterprises.

Jewelry Making… Breaking the Barrier of Fear

One of the boldest initiatives was “Jewelry and Goldsmithing,” implemented in cooperation with Helwan University. Professor Al-Shifaa explains the vision behind it:
“We are a gold-producing country, and it saddens me that we export it as raw material. We began training young women on machines and equipment to break the fear barrier of demanding manual labor. Our goal is to build cadres of young women and men who will one day manage goldsmithing factories in Sudan, so that gold gains real added value.”

"Green Your Home, Give to Your Neighbor"
Hope for a Return to Khartoum

Environmental concerns hold a special place in Al-Shifaa’s heart, no less important than education. She vividly recalls her project “Green Your Home and Your Neighbor’s Valley,” which targeted 3,000 homes in Khartoum. With a tone filled with optimism, she says:
“We collected red acacia seeds, and we will return to replant the streets of Khartoum. There is a profound connection between greening the land and developing human beings.”

Honor as Responsibility, Not Prestige

Regarding her recent recognition by the Isnad Association for Supporting War-Affected Communities, in collaboration with the League of Arab States, Al-Shifaa views it as a tribute to collective spirit:
“The honor is the result of team effort at Isnad, which provided medical care, in-kind support, and vocational training to those affected by war. It is a motivation for us to continue the ‘Reflect’ program, which teaches women how to solve community problems—from water issues to household economics—so they can return to Sudan capable of rebuilding.”

This recognition reflects the profound impact Professor Al-Shifaa has made on the lives of hundreds of war-affected families and on empowering Sudanese refugee women in Egypt.

Professor Al-Shifaa Abdel Qader leaves the interview table, but her influence remains etched in the minds of hundreds of trainees who found in her “healing” (Shifa) from despair. She is a model of a woman who does not wait for solutions but creates them with her own hands—confident that Sudan, though wounded by war, will endure through the resilience of its daughters and sons who refuse to be broken.

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