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Choose Love in Sudan: Three years on

Choose Love in Sudan: Three years on

Choose Love in Sudan: Three years on

photo credit: Tom Nicholson

For more than three years, Sudanese people have been living through the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Families are facing horrific violence, famine, and unimaginable suffering. It is now essentially a war on civilians. 

As this crisis continues, the world has looked away, leaving the people of Sudan in desperate need. With limited access to international aid organisations – incredible local organisations, including our partners – have been supporting their communities through this unimaginable horror. They are innovative, fast and responsive to the needs on the ground, but they need more support. 

 

At Choose Love, we work directly with local, community-led organisations. We provide fast, flexible grants, making sure our partners have the resources they need to support their communities.

Since 2023, we’ve granted over £314,000 via 16 grants to our partners in Sudan. But right now, our partners require more support as an estimated 13 million children are facing acute food insecurity and 14 areas across Sudan remain on the brink of famine.

And as hunger deepens, supporting our partners directly remains one of the most effective ways to reach people quickly.

What started the crisis in Sudan?

Following the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019, Sudan endured years of political instability. A short-lived successful civilian uprising was overthrown by a military Coup in 2021. In 2023, tensions between the two leading military factions the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into violent conflict. Both factions refused to relinquish power to a civilian-led government. The conflict quickly spread from the capital city Khartoum to the rest of the country, with civilians paying the highest price.

As the conflict continues and worsens in some areas, people are arriving to displacement camps without enough food to feed their families, women are giving birth without the right care available, and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war has increased across the country.

This is why our partners who provide food, medical aid and cash assistance in Sudan and in neighbouring countries are so important. We currently work with 7 Sudanese-led organisations including an organisation in Chad providing food, medicine, cash assistance and essential supplies.

Meet SAPA and Hope & Haven for Refugees

Both organisations help Sudanese people in different ways, in different countries. Showing the scale of displacement and the humanitarian aid required. 

Our partner Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) is a Sudanese-led organisation providing critical medical aid and healthcare services, supporting millions of people in Sudan. 

With grants and other support from Choose Love, SAPA is able to run health facilities that thousands of families rely on. They are helping millions of people access treatment, maternal healthcare and nutrition support, during a time they are desperately needed.

For mums like Hawaa, SAPA has been a lifeline.

Hawaa was heavily pregnant when she had to flee from her home. Not knowing where she would deliver her baby or how she would keep her baby safe. A constant question weighed on her mind: will my baby have access to the healthcare needed after birth?

After she gave birth, Hawaa found what she needed at Daba Naira Clinic, a healthcare facility supported by SAPA. There, she began receiving the support they both needed: regular nutrition services and routine immunisations, giving them a healthier chance at life, despite the conflict around them. 

image of Hawaa holding her baby, sat in a healthcare facility inside a tent. Hawaa stared into the camera, wearing a multicoloured hijab while her babie's head appears from the blanket they are wrapped up in.

Our partner Hope & Haven For Refugees are providing food to displaced Sudanese communities living in Chad. They’ve started child-focused food centres to make sure that children in particular are able to access food and stave off famine.

A group of young Sudanese boys sat inside the Hope and Haven food distribution sharing and eating food

Since last year, Hope & Haven For Refugees have been distributing two meals a day to 1,000 refugee children. They also help Sudanese people in Chad access healthcare, education and community support. Their centre has become a place of dignity, care, and emotional support.

What can I do to help?

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is severe. And organisations like SAPA and Hope & Haven For Refugees are the only way to get the Sudanese people what they need: they know the people, they know the land and they know who needs what. 

Since the conflict escalation in 2023, Choose Love has worked with over 13 partners in Sudan and neighbouring countries carrying out life saving support. But it’s only possible because of people like you. 

So every donation really does help. At Choose Love, we work by channeling the support from people like you, who care about the crisis in Sudan. Children can access meals, mothers and babies can receive vital medical care, and families can get the support they need to survive and rebuild.

Find our more about the impact we’re helping local organisations to make in Sudan.

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Announcing…Choose Love, the book!

Announcing…Choose Love, the book!

Announcing…Choose Love, the book!

 

 

We’re incredibly excited to announce our powerful anthology Choose Love: 10 Writers and Refugees on Kindness in Contemporary Britain coming out this November. Edited by the award-winning poet and playwright Inua Ellams and published by Hutchinson Heinemann, an imprint of Cornerstone / Penguin Random House UK.

Choose Love is all about turning compassion into action. This beautiful collection reminds us that stories have the power to build empathy, challenge perceptions and bring us closer together to show that love is always stronger than fear.

Ten acclaimed writers are paired with ten people who have experienced displacement and the UK asylum system, working together to tell stories of resilience, humanity and hope.

From unexpected friendships to life-changing encounters, these pieces explore the pivotal moments when love was transformed into action — when it became shelter, solidarity, courage and friendship.

Editor Inua Ellams said: ‘Away from the terrible headlines and exploitative algorithms, I’ve known of and experienced a kinder, unified and braver Britain. Here are ten stories that show who we are and can yet be.’

We can’t wait to share these stories with you. We hope they’ll inspire conversations, deepen understanding and remind us all to choose love.

The book will be published in hardback, e-book and audiobook on 12 November 2026.

Every pre-order helps us spread the word about this vital collection and the stories at its heart.

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Chair – Choose Love

Chair – Choose Love

Chair – Choose Love

Job Description

Organisation: Choose Love
Location: London

Choose Love is at the forefront of driving impactful change for refugees and displaced communities
worldwide. We now seek a new Chair to help shape Choose Love’s future direction, support its
continued growth and impact, and contribute to its ambition to become one of the world’s most
innovative, trusted and influential humanitarian organisations for displaced communities.

Choose Love combines entrepreneurial thinking, humanitarian urgency and public advocacy with
strong governance and accountability. This is an opportunity to chair the Board of an ambitious,
high-profile humanitarian organisation at an inflection point in its journey. Following significant
philanthropic investment and the development of a new five-year strategy, the incoming Chair will
need to understand the opportunities and challenges of leading an organisation that works in
complex, high-risk environments while maintaining independence and the ability to speak out on
issues affecting displaced communities.

You’ll bring a deep understanding of charity governance, preferably with experience of chairing a
complex not for profit organisation. With strong leadership and facilitation skills, you bring tact,
diplomacy, and the ability to bring people together and support an effective and accountable Board.

We’re seeking excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills and the ability to operate
effectively in an ambassadorial role. Some familiarity with, and broad understanding of, the
requirements and dynamics of social media communications, will be an advantage.

Credibility and senior leadership experience appropriate to chairing a high-profile humanitarian
organisation will be important, together with a strong and visible commitment to Choose Love, and
an informed passion for the rights and needs of displaced people.

If you share our vision of a world that chooses love and justice for everyone — where displaced
communities can thrive — we would love to hear from you!

Timetable

  • Closing date: 27 August

  • People Beyond Profit interviews: 9–11 June

  • Choose Love interviews: 17–18 September

  • Final panel interviews: 28 – 29 September

How to Apply

To find out more and apply, download the appointment brief. 

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact:

Fiona Wansborough, Co-Director, People Beyond Profit: fiona@peoplebeyondprofit.co.uk

We encourage early applications and will consider candidates on a rolling basis. 

At Choose Love, we cultivate a vibrant and inclusive culture. While we expect high performance and excellence, we also foster a creative, collaborative and dynamic environment where people are empowered to innovate, challenge thinking and make a meaningful difference together.

Choose Love is committed to building an inclusive and diverse organisation and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

 

Choose Love X Jon Hopkins – Part of Harry Styles’ Meltdown

Choose Love X Jon Hopkins – Part of Harry Styles’ Meltdown

Choose Love X Jon Hopkins – Part of Harry Styles’ Meltdown

We’re very excited to invite you to a one-of-a-kind exhibition as part of Harry Styles’ Meltdown this summer!

We’re collaborating with Jon Hopkins on an incredible event –  a unique audio-visual installation of refugee artwork from around the world, featuring original music by Jon Hopkins, developed in collaboration with Brian Eno, with visual design by Dan Tombs.

This installation brings together 60 artworks created by refugees around the world, in partnership with refugee-led organisations and community groups.

It will be presented in the Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre from 19-21 June, celebrating the strength and resilience of people seeking asylum, as part of Refugee Week and its theme this year: Courage.

The installation celebrates the strength and resilience of people seeking sanctuary through painting, sound and visual design.

Composer Jon Hopkins creates a generative score exploring ideas of home, safety and belonging, developed in collaboration with Brian Eno.

Visual artist Dan Tombs layers the paintings with projected imagery that appears to float above and around you, immersing you in the power and creativity of the artists.

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London Marathon 2027

London Marathon 2027

London Marathon 2027

The London Marathon 2027 is set to be the biggest event yet. Why not run one of the world’s most iconic marathons to support displaced people and refugees.

Ready to take on the challenge?

Let us know you’d like to run for Choose Love and we’ll be in touch with how to apply for one of our places.

You’ll also receive an exclusive Choose Love running vest to wear with pride as you take on your challenge! 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Weekend of 24th April 2027

Application Deadline: TBC

Location: London     

Distance: Marathon

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