What is “Marifiyoon”?
Maʿrifiyoon for Democracy and Development is a national project that emerged from the Reading for Change groups, transforming their accumulated knowledge and collective dialogue into a dynamic social movement operating in the public sphere. It draws inspiration from the spirit of Sudan’s December Revolution and embraces its causes by fostering connections among grassroots and youth-based groups.
Established in May 2019, the project represents an intellectual and organizational response to Sudan’s revolutionary moment. It aspires to build an independent national platform that reflects the voices of Sudanese people across regions, identities, and generations—offering an alternative vision rooted in knowledge, justice, and sustainable development.
Maʿrifiyoon is more than just a name; it reflects the essence of a movement grounded in knowledge—a value that sets it apart from other initiatives and organizations, and gives it a clear intellectual compass in a time of polarization and fragmentation.
Core Principle
We believe that knowledge-based awareness is the foundation of all meaningful change, and that building a just democratic state requires comprehensive reform in policy, institutional structures, and prevailing political culture. Our deep engagement with thousands of young people through the Reading for Change groups formed the nucleus of this emerging movement.
Our Mission
To bring about a profound social and political transformation that reshapes the Sudanese state on the basis of:
Social justice and equal citizenship
Respect for cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity
Knowledge-based and economic empowerment of rural and marginalized communities
The advancement of women, with a special focus on rural women
Sustainable environmental stewardship
Religious reform within the framework of a democratic and civil state
Our Priorities
Ending wars and achieving just and lasting peace
Contributing to transitional justice and post-conflict reconstruction
Promoting a culture of nonviolence and active citizenship
Supporting education, literacy, and digital inclusion
Developing a new political discourse grounded in civil rights and social justice
Why Marifiyoon ؟
It rises from the grassroots, not from the center
It is built on intellectual and knowledge-based accumulation, not political allegiance
It embraces nonviolence and community participation over confrontation and conflict
It strives to build a decentralized movement—open to all and deeply rooted in local communities
