Awadeya Mahmoud (

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...

: عوضية محمود) a Sudanese and the founder and chairwoman of the Women's Food and Tea Sellers' Cooperative and the Women's Multi-Purpose Cooperative for Khartoum state, Sudan. On 28 March 2016, the

United States Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other n ...

announced her as one of the recipients of the

International Women of Courage Award The International Women of Courage Award, also referred to as the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award, is an American award presented annually by the United States Department of State to women around the world who have ...

for that year.

Life

Awadeya Mahmoud was born in 1963 in Sudan, South Kordofan region and after conflict her family moved to Khartoum. She married and in 1986 she began selling tea to make living. This was a lowly occupation but she needed to support her family. In 1990 she began a co-operative which offered legal aid and support to its members. It was called the Women's Food and Tea Sellers' Cooperative and the Women's Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Through the cooperative office a legal means could now be funded to combat the authorities when they confiscated the equipment of members(mostly women) for selling tea and food on street. It did not all go well and she had to serve four years in jail after she and others were in debt after a poor investment. After her release she continued to support women and the cooperative had 8,000 members in Khartoum.Tea lady's journey from Sudan to White House
AFP, 29 April 2016, Emirates 247. Retrieved 9 July 2016 The organization came to represent women displaced by the conflict in

Darfur Darfur ( ; ar, دار فور, Dār Fūr, lit=Realm of the Fur) is a region of western Sudan. ''Dār'' is an Arabic word meaning "home f – the region was named Dardaju ( ar, دار داجو, Dār Dājū, links=no) while ruled by the Daju, ...

and the Two Areas.

Honors

On 28 March 2016, the

announced her as one of fourteen recipients of the

for that year. She was reported to be straight back at her job after receiving her award although she intended to extend her work outside Khartoum.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahmoud, Awadeya Living people 1963 births Sudanese women Place of birth missing (living people) Recipients of the International Women of Courage Award