The Unity High School Archive

The following article is about the life of one of Unity High School's most important students and is taken from the website of the University of Pennsylvannia, African Studies Center. Khalda Zahir of Almorada Village (Amir & Caron Zahir) I would like to introduce some women from Almorada. In doing so, by no means do I intend to undermine the contributions of other women in Almorada, or in other urban and rural areas of Sudan. Or, to claim those women were the only ones who had some contributions that are worth mentioning. Rather, I am simply trying to share with you some of the untold stories of the area I love and grew up in, through the eyes of those selected group of women. One of the first women I will like to introduce to you, is Khalda Zahir. Most probably, I will share with you more information about Khalda than about the other women, because of the shared family history. Khalda was born in Almorada in January 8, 1926. She was the first born child of Fatima Ajab Arbab an...

This morning Robert Boulos was arrested for the second time this month for Violation of Trust under Law 177. This relates directly to his part in the theft of Unity High School in 1995. (Posted 27th July 2011)

The entire contents of this Archive are now in the process of being deposited in the Sudan Archive at Durham University in England. (Posted 22nd July 2011)

I have been reading all your comments with interest and feel that perhaps some of you need more background to help you to understand things. Bishop Gwynne started a school in 1902 and bought the land with his own money. He gave that land to the Church. The school had 250 students in 1927 when the Church decided they didn't want it. It wasn't making much money as fees were low and over half the students were Muslim and not interested in being converted. They then SOLD Bishop Gwynne's present back to him. Gwynne tried again and opened Unity in 1928 on his own. Whenever the school needed money they appealed for donations. Money came from ALL the communities except the Anglican Church. There were Anglicans who gave money but they gave it as individuals. When Gwynne left he had no children so he left the school in Trust. He was very careful to make the Trustees members of the business community; not church members. He left a Church based Council just for day to day affairs. That...

News has just come in that Robert Boulos has been re-arrested at Unity High School for Violation of Trust. This relates directly to his theft of the school with Bishop Kondo, Safwat Fanous, the previous Bishop Bulus and Makram Margos of Unity High School and all of its assets in 1995. It is reported that a new Board of Trustees has been formed and is ready to be put in place to take over the legal and proper running of the school and to re-establish it on a legal footing in the manner in which Bishop Gwynne originally intended when he founded the school in 1928. Further details will be posted here as they become available. Update: It is reported that Robbie is not going to be allowed bail but will remain in prison. 

This morning, Robert Boulos, the Director of Unity High School was arrested and taken to prison facing unspecified charges. He was later released on bail. (Posted 11th July 2011)

This morning, Robert Boulos, the Director of Unity High School and one of the gang of thieves behind the theft of Unity High School in 1995 with his partners in crime: Bishop Ezekiel Kondo, Safwat Fanous, Makram Margos and the late Bishop Bulus, was arrested. No details are as yet forthcoming, but it seems that the arrest followed allegations over his dealings in the Gillian Gibbons case in December of 2007 in which Sarah Awad, a teaching assistant at the school, was made the scapegoat for Boulos' incompetence and mis-management of the affair. Sarah Awad, the much maligned victim of that episode in the history of the school has now been re-appointed to her post at Unity High School and Boulos must now answer to his accusers. The School Council, in response to the arrest of Robert Boulos are currently attempting to buy Sarah Awad off and have the charges - as yet unspecified - dropped. Update:   This evening, Robbie was released from police custody on bail, but is still facing ...

Horrified at the blatant theft of school monies from Unity High School, Dr. Marina and Steve Gooch went to take a look at some of the other schools that had either been built by or fallen under the care of Bishop Gwynne in the early years of the 20th Century. The schools in Omdurman, run by the Episcopal Church of Sudan, are such schools and are now in desperate need of finance, maintenance and good educational management. These schools have been systematically looted of donations and all other monies earmarked for their care, maintenance and staff salaries over the years and are an example of what could become of Unity High School under the management of it's current School Council. The schools in Omdurman are largely governed by the same people who now sit on the School Council of Unity High School. You can find the photographs of the visit to the schools here: The Episcopal Church of Sudan Primary School in Omdurman, Founded in 1906 - 18th May 2011 The Episcopal Church of Sudan ...

As you are all aware, Dr Marina Hitchen, the Principal of Unity High School has been asked by the School Council to step down as Principal at the end of this school year. Dr Marina would of course have loved to have stayed at Unity for another academic year to ensure that the successes that she is responsible for and which are so obvious to the parents, teachers, students and even the Ministry of Education could have been built on and continued effectively by her successor. This is not to be however, and it is with great sadness that we are saying goodbye to Dr. Marina, her work here at Unity left incomplete. Although everyone associated with the school have great fears for the future of Unity, let at least this page on the Archive be a celebration of all that Dr. Marina has achieved in the time in which she has been Principal. Unity High School is currently enjoying success as never before: IGCSE results that continue to improve year by year and are the envy of every other school in S...

We are building, we are building, Shaping substance from a dream; Side by side from many nations, We unfold a vaster theme. That this world shall be a homeland Where the people great and small Bring their glory and their treasure All for each and each for all. ----------------------------- As the river to the desert, So our springs shall flood the earth; Day by day we build the future, Dreams that time must bring to birth. What the weary lands are seeking Here is built for all to see; Here to-morrow's world is founded On the rock of Unity. ----------------------------- We are building, we are building, True and faithful to the plan; Working out the master pattern For the joy of God and man. In the gladness of our morning We will speed the task begun, Handing on to those who follow That the nations may be one. Sadly, as with much else from the history of Unity High School, we now no longer have the music to go with these words. 

Click on an image to enlarge it in your browser window. Top Class 1911 can be found here: The First Graduating Class - Top Class 1911 . Top Class 2011 (Year 11) can be found here: The Graduating Class of 2011: Year 11 - Top Class 2011 . Top Class 2011 (Year 12) can be found here: The Graduating Class of 2011: Year 12 - Top Class 2011 . These photos were also featured on the @womenofsudan Instagram account.

Whatsoever things are true, Whatsoever things are honest, Whatsoever things are just, Whatsoever things are pure, Whatsoever things are lovely, Whatsoever things are of good report, Think on these things.

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