Our Story

From a small workshop to a cross-border movement empowering Sudanese youth and communities.

The Foundation

Waey Organization is a Sudanese non-governmental organization, founded and registered in January 2017 under Sudan's Ministry of Culture law for associations and cultural groups, as a voluntary association aimed at raising awareness, promoting and introducing Sudanese cultures, raising awareness and effectiveness in various rights issues, supporting the principle of active citizenship, nurturing creative thinking, enhancing cultural and ethnic diversity, and combating violence, hatred, and harmful traditions.

Waey employs various mechanisms such as launching social and awareness campaigns, establishing and supporting community initiatives, and building the capacity of youth and women to empower them to participate effectively in their communities, civil society organizations, professional and sectoral bodies, and all national institutions, in addition to using artistic, sporting, and creative media means to achieve its goals.

Waey Organization - The Foundation

Vision

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Active Sudanese citizens, enjoying all their rights, capable of achieving their full developmental potential, and proud of their culture and identity.

Mission

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Waey promotes the capacities of Sudanese citizens to build a bright future rooted in human rights and culture. We create spaces for learning, dialogue, and creativity — fostering teamwork and partnerships to drive meaningful change.

Our Core Values

Waey Organization, in its institutional development program, emphasizes the integration of all these values in its constitution, policies, procedures, and code of conduct, to be binding on all its staff, volunteers, and implementing partners.

Non-Discrimination

No discrimination based on race, culture, or gender.

Spirit of Volunteerism

Promoting the spirit of volunteer work and belonging to humanitarian action.

Commitment to Work

Full commitment to work rules and institutional principles.

Quality & Professionalism

Commitment to quality and professional standards in all activities.

Transparency & Accountability

Working to establish transparency and institutional accountability rules and systems.

Creativity & Learning

Encouraging exchange of experiences, constructive ideas, learning, self-promotion, and supporting creativity.

Accountability Mechanisms

Adhering to accountability rules and mechanisms in a way that positively affects the target group.

Child & Youth Protection

Commitment to child and youth protection policies in all our programs.

Gender Sensitivity

Ensuring protection and integrating a gender perspective into all our activities.

Our Journey

A brief look at how Waey Organization evolved through pivotal moments in Sudan's recent history.

2017: Before the Revolution

Born from a 2016 workshop, Waey laid its foundation in grassroots civic education. Despite the challenges of the civic space, we focused on building local youth capacities and spreading fundamental human rights awareness.

2019: After the Revolution

The democratic transition opened new horizons. Waey rapidly expanded its scope, leading nationwide peacebuilding dialogues, anti-corruption campaigns, and openly advocating for institutional reforms alongside youth movements.

2023 - Present: After the War

Adapting to profound crisis, Waey extended its arms across borders. We now actively operate to combat hate speech fueling the conflict, while concurrently providing vital support frameworks for Sudanese refugees in Uganda and Egypt.

Waey's Strategy

A look at how Waey's strategic vision evolved from its founding

First: At the Founding of Waey Organization

Upon its establishment, Waey defined three strategic tracks to guide its work:

  • Supporting grassroots initiatives, movements, and systems, and promoting a culture of volunteering and initiative — especially among youth and women.
  • Connecting Sudanese youth with history and Sudan's diverse identities, and strengthening knowledge and communication with the broader African environment.
  • Encouraging and supporting creativity, arts, skills, and identities among children and youth.

Second: In 2021 — The First Four-Year Strategy (July 2021 – June 2025)

Waey designed its first four-year strategy with the overarching theme of promoting democratic transition and supporting Sudanese civil society. The following strategic tracks were identified:

Social Issues

  • Promoting a culture of dialogue and acceptance of others.
  • Fostering peaceful coexistence and the rule of law.
  • Strengthening collective awareness and the social fabric.
  • Encouraging citizens to play active roles in their communities.

Education Issues

  • Advocating for curriculum reform aligned with modern standards.
  • Increasing enrollment rates and improving school environments.
  • Integrating human rights education into the educational system.

Democratic Transition

  • Encouraging dialogue among diverse stakeholders.
  • Promoting effective roles for youth and women in their communities.
  • Strengthening democratic mechanisms (unions, media, parliaments, police, etc.).
  • Building capacity and knowledge on governance issues.
  • Raising awareness of constitutional rights and civic knowledge.

Anti-Corruption

  • Promoting community and official accountability and oversight of public funds.
  • Building parliamentary capacity in budget oversight.
  • Conducting research on corruption environments in government institutions.
  • Combating corruption through strategic engagement with its environments.

Implementation Strategies

To achieve strategic objectives and sustain impact, Waey adopted the following approaches after providing comprehensive training to its staff, volunteers, and implementing partners:

  • Rights-based approach.
  • Results-based management approach.
  • Participatory approach.
  • Evidence-based advocacy.

Cross-Cutting Issues

In designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating all programs, Waey takes the following cross-cutting issues into account:

  • Gender equality.
  • Peacebuilding.
  • Do no harm.
  • Non-violence.
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Third: In 2024 — Updated Strategy

Waey updated its strategy to align with the repercussions of the April 2023 war in Sudan. After relocating its headquarters to Uganda, the organization revised its goals and tracks during a strategy meeting concluded on September 1, 2024, establishing the following strategic priorities:

Internal Priorities

  • Training and capacity building for members, staff, and volunteers, and developing Waey's own training curricula.
  • Establishing independent income sources.
  • Re-establishing Waey Studio for media and artistic production.
  • Developing partnership-building curricula, recruiting new members, and improving the work environment.
  • Creating a digital system covering communications, accounting, HR, project management, media, and activities.
  • Activating the website and digital platforms, and increasing member engagement.

External Priorities

  • Supporting and organizing Sudanese communities inside and outside Sudan — technically, socially, legally, humanitarianly, and psychologically through direct and indirect interventions.
  • Contributing to ending the war, peacebuilding, and promoting peaceful coexistence.
  • Strengthening modern civil society and supporting resistance processes against the narrowing of Sudan's civic space.
  • Building and strengthening local, regional, and global partnerships.