Zaynab Ibrahim

Sudanese educator building schools in conflict zones through community-led initiatives

Zaynab Ibrahim is a Sudanese architect and educator whose Build With Community initiative has constructed 45 schools in Darfur since 2020 using locally sourced materials and community labor. Her approach emphasizes female participation in construction teams, resulting in 70% of laborers being women. In 2022, she pioneered the mobile classroom project using repurposed shipping containers equipped with solar-powered learning centers.

Ibrahim's documentary series on education in conflict zones has inspired similar projects in Yemen and Syria. Her 2023 report Education Under Fire was adopted by the UNICEF Sudan office. In 2024, she developed a curriculum integrating peacebuilding modules into school subjects, now taught in 120 schools across Sudan.

Her LinkedIn campaign raised $500,000 for teacher training programs. Ibrahim's work was recognized by the African Union's 2023 Education Excellence Award. She currently advises the Sudanese government's post-crisis education recovery plan while continuing grassroots operations through her NGO's network of 300+ volunteer educators.