Mrs Opheera McDoom was the first foreign correspondent from a Western news agency to return to Sudan after the hiatus in the 1990s. She set up and headed offices in Khartoum for the Reuters news agency.
She has won awards including in the 2007 United Nations Elizabeth Neuffer Memorial Award, Reuters journalist of the year 2006, and has been the Reuters nominee for the prestigious OPC award, the IWMF's Courage in Journalism award and the Prix Bayeux.
A British national she attended the renowned Latymer grammar school in London (link), speaks five languages and received her B.A. and Masters degrees from Edinburgh University. She studied music, playing the piano, flute and singing. In sport she represented Scottish universities in netball, and coached and played for the Edinburgh University netball team which ranked third in the United Kingdom as well as playing competitive tennis and other sports to a high level. She is married to Sudanese engineer, Mohamed Omer Abdelaati. Mrs McDoom can handle enquiries in both English and Arabic.
Mrs McDoom has been training for 18 years and is accredited as a Jolly Phonics trainer in Sudan and the UK. She has trained hundreds of teachers in Sudan and the UK and has a qualification in mental health for children and young adults.
"Academic excellence is the basic requirement of a school, but children also need to play while enjoying a broader education encompassing sport, music, drama and other activities. We want to produce a well-rounded generation of children who enjoy reading, learning and are independent thinkers."
