After students have arrived, begin discussion by asking about their prized possessions.
- Think about your most prized possessions. What would be the most difficult things to give up if you were suddenly torn from your home? (Answers may include cell phones, cars, clothes, or sentimental items.)
Since April 2023, the country of Sudan on the continent of Africa has been in a civil war. In this conflict, thousands of lives have been lost in the fighting, and over 8 million people have been displaced from their homes. Refugees have fled to the south of Sudan, as well as to nearby countries Chad and Ethiopia, to escape the conflict.
Why is Sudan at war? “The conflict is primarily a power struggle between the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The two groups…are battling one another for control of the state and its resources. As the conflict deepens, humanitarian conditions are declining, and the promise of a long-awaited democratic transition diminishes.”
Play the following video for your students [2:11; stop at 1:16]: Sudanese refugees continue to pour into Ethiopia
- In order to flee to safety, families had to leave behind their homes, jobs, and possessions. Do you think it would be easy to make such a sacrifice for the sake of your family? Why or why not? (Accept all reasonable answers.)
- What if you had to choose between keeping your possessions or your relationships? Would you be willing to live in displacement like the people in the video in order to maintain your relationships with your family and friends? (Instruct your students to ponder this question internally rather than responding aloud.)
Often, we allow our possessions to become more important than the people we love. In today’s lesson, we will learn about one man who had to make a difficult choice between his possessions and relationships. Let’s take a look.
