Abutalik Primary School in Darfur's Kor Abeche region. The school has been deserted since 2004 when reportedly Arab militia murdered six teachers in front of their students.

World Vision began operations in the area following the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006. Villagers are beginning to return to Kor Abeche; food distributions, improvements to sanitation and water and efforts toward reviving the primary school are slowly restoring hope.

After I had learned that six teachers were killed in front of their students at a primary school in Kor Abeche in 2004, I asked my co-workers to rearrange our schedule so that we might pass by the school to take some photos; apparently, this horrific event had never been officially reported.

When we drove into the deserted compound, I glimpsed a small boy standing alone. When he saw us, he immediately ducked and ran toward a cluster of scrawny goats and sheep. I first dismissed his actions as those of a shy schoolboy and began to photograph the school's stark, empty classrooms.

An Ugly Truth

A Disturbing Conversation

When I gestured for him to sit on the windowsill, indicating I wanted to take his picture, he cautiously advanced. Once we introduced ourselves, I began to ask 14-year-old Ali (not his real name) some questions. Here are a few excerpts from our conversation:

Michael: Where is your home? Ali: I used to live in a village that is over a hundred kilometers away. Then I moved to this area. Michael: Did you move with your parents? Ali: I have no parents. They were both killed at the village where we lived. Raiders attacked our home and killed my parents. I had gone out, while my brothers and sisters were at my grandparents. They burnt our house and burnt my parents, too. Me and my siblings were lucky to have been away at the time. When I discovered that both my parents were dead, I fled and came here. I met a man named Ajak who trained me. Michael: Trained you in what? Ali: I am a soldier! I am part of an army. [He] trained me how to shoot. Michael: Have you ever killed somebody? Ali: I don’t know. People tell me I shoot very well. I have shot at many people. I don’t know whether I have killed anybody. Michael: Would you like to go to school? Ali: Yes! Michael: What would you like to become in life if you went to school? Ali: I would like to become a teacher.

After we finished visiting, I thanked Ali for his time and crawled into our dusty overland vehicle. As I waved goodbye, he waved back. He then gave us a thumbs-up, his piercing eyes following us as we drove into the desert.

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