Awadeya Mahmoud facts for kids
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Awadeya Mahmoud (in Arabic: عوضية محمود) is a brave woman from Sudan. She is known for starting and leading two important groups: the Women's Food and Tea Sellers' Cooperative and the Women's Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Both of these groups help women in the Khartoum region of Sudan. In 2016, she received a special honor called the International Women of Courage Award from the United States Department of State.
Her Early Life and Work
Awadeya Mahmoud was born in 1963 in the South Kordofan region of Sudan. Her family had to move to Khartoum because of fighting in their home area. In 1986, she started selling tea to earn money for her family. This was a simple job, but it helped her support her loved ones.
Helping Women Through Cooperatives
In 1990, Awadeya Mahmoud decided to do more than just sell tea. She started a special group called a cooperative. This group, first known as the Women's Food and Tea Sellers' Cooperative, later became the Women's Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Its main goal was to offer legal help and support to its members, who were mostly women selling food and tea on the streets.
These women often faced problems with local authorities who would take away their equipment. The cooperative helped them fight for their rights and get their tools back. Awadeya faced many challenges herself. At one point, she went through a very difficult time due to financial problems related to the cooperative's investments. However, she never gave up. After this tough period, she continued her important work. Her cooperative grew to help about 8,000 women in Khartoum. It also supported women who had to leave their homes because of conflicts in places like Darfur and the "Two Areas" of Sudan.
Special Recognition
On March 28, 2016, Awadeya Mahmoud was one of fourteen women from around the world to receive the International Women of Courage Award. This award honors women who show amazing bravery and leadership in helping others. After receiving her award, she quickly returned to her work, planning to expand her efforts to help even more women outside of Khartoum.
