Barbara Davis started Project Destiny, a program that plans to take Prince George's County women to Egypt this fall to teach life skills to Sudanese refugees. (Photo: Leah L. Jones/ The Gazette)
Project plans to teach life skills to Sudanese refugees
Despite the economic woes affecting life in Prince George’s County, Barbara Davis of Lanham challenges women to see beyond themselves by focusing on the plight of others.
Davis, founder of the nonprofit Practical Living Institute, has launched Project Destiny, a skills training program that plans to assist about 30 Sudanese refugee women living in Egypt. Davis, who will conduct the program in Egypt for nine months beginning in September, seeks women volunteers who will join her for seven or eight 10-day sessions in 2010 to teach computer training, cosmetology or other skills.
“The women refugees have no health care or support,” Davis said. “Some are from Darfur; some are from other parts of the Sudan. Some of them have been in transit two or three years looking for a place of safety.”
Sudan faces great turbulence due to ethnic fighting, political unrest and clashes between Muslims and Christians, Davis said. Large numbers of men have been killed and women are vulnerable to rape. Some of the women who escaped to Egypt now care for children who aren’t their own.
“When you’re escaping, you just pick up a child and run,” Davis said.
Project Destiny’s goal is to stabilize the refugees and give them life-sustaining skills.
“Domestic work keeps them down economically,” said Davis, who has been interacting with the refugees in Egypt since 2007. “We want them to learn how to use computers, analyze blood or develop crafts they can sell. Just because you haven’t been taught doesn’t mean you can’t learn.”
Davis also will train two local deputy directors to operate the program next year.
Noting the daunting problems residents face in the county, Davis said those who respond to this type of call have compassion for people no matter where those people live.
“If we wait to fix all the problems here before we help someone else, we’ll never get there,” Davis said. “Those who say we can’t help because we have problems in this country typically aren’t doing anything to solve local problems either.”
Volunteers will fly to Paris and then to Egypt.
Participants will be required to be vaccinated against hepatitis, tuberculosis and other diseases. The trip will include three days for volunteers to see such major tourist attractions, such as the pyramids.
Each volunteer is being asked to pay $1,500 for air travel and lodging.
Although international travel always involves risk, loneliness presents the biggest challenge for Davis. Over the course of the program, she plans to come home only in December for a three-week holiday break.
“I’ll be challenged but I can’t let my discomfort stop me from doing what God has called me to do,” said Davis, who plans to study Arabic on quiet Sunday evenings.
Although many churches in the county financially support missions, she hopes pastors and others will come get a firsthand look at what’s happening overseas.
“If you come and see, you’ll have a different viewpoint on the world,” Davis said.
How she makes a difference:
In September, Davis will launch the Project Destiny skills-training program for Sudanese refugee women living in Egypt.
To volunteer or provide support, call 301-794-0211.
Source: The Gazette
