The Young Leaders for Art and Health – Atbara Summit was held for the first time in Sudan on 16 August 2025 at the Umbackol Shelter in Atbara in the River Nile State in northeastern Sudan.
Held under the theme, “Addressing Mental Health and Oral Health Challenges of Displaced Youth through Art,” the summit aimed at raising mental health and well-being awareness for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan through the power of art. More than 250 people attended the summit.
The summit has been organised by Dr Elkhansaa Ibrahim, a dentist, medical artist, founder of Color Pulse Studio, and Global Art in Medicine Fellow; in partnership with Dentoraise Dental Center, the Sudan Family Planning Association, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The Umbackol Shelter is a former school in Umbackol in the Atbara River area, which currently functions as a shelter to host internally displaced persons (IDPs). The ongoing war, which began on 15 April 2025 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has left over 12 million people displaced, including more than eight million within the country.
According to Ibrahim, displacement and conflict in Sudan have left deep psychological and health challenges for youth. The Atbara Summit created an innovative space where art became a therapeutic bridge, connecting oral health awareness with mental health resilience.
“As a dentist and a medical artist, I have seen how health is not just physical. It is emotional and cultural. Through Color Pulse Studio, I wanted to bring art as a healing tool for Sudan’s displaced youth,” she said. The creative initiative integrates art and medicine, providing services such as medical illustrations, educational content creation, medical textbooks development, mentorship, and workshops. The studio uses art as a tool for healing, empowerment, and education for Sudanese youth, especially those displaced or vulnerable.
The programme included theatrical performances, choral singing, and traditional songs created to raise awareness of mental health; interactive art workshops and a painting corner, allowing displaced youth to express their emotions visually; and cultural performances and competitions to highlight Sudanese heritage and amplify the voices of displaced youth on global platforms.
“Sudan’s crises demand unconventional solutions. Art is more than expression; it is a therapeutic path to restore dignity, inspire resilience, and give voice to those who have been silenced by war,” said Ibrahim.
This event underscored the role of art as not only a medium of expression but also a tool for healing, empowerment, and rebuilding hope for Sudan’s future.
“This summit is not only about oral health or mental health. It is about giving our youth a space to transform their pain into creativity, their displacement into belonging,” said Ibrahim.
“Dentistry is about more than teeth; it is about confidence, wellbeing, and humanity. At Dentoraise, we joined this initiative because oral health and mental health go hand in hand,” said Dr Rafa Hashim, Founder of Dentoraise Dental Center. The local dental centre provides oral healthcare and supports community awareness programmes.
“Our youth deserve more than survival. They deserve a future. By merging health awareness with art, we are addressing trauma in a way that connects deeply with their hearts and minds,” said Mohanad Hassan, the youth programmes and projects officer at Sudan Family Planning Association. The national NGO providing family planning, reproductive health, mental health and educational services in Sudan.
According to Ibrahim, some of the attendants said, “For the first time since we left our homes, I felt free to paint what I feel inside,” “Singing together reminded me that we still have joy, even in the middle of loss,” “The art corner was like a mirror. I saw my story on the canvas, and it made me believe that healing is possible,” and “We may be displaced, but today, through art, I felt seen, heard, and valued.”
The summit has also been organised in collaboration with global partners including Young Leaders for Art and Health (YLAH), an initiative empowering Global youth through creative arts and health education; Global Art in Medicine, an international fellowship promoting the integration of art into medicine to enhance medical education and humanistic care; and the Commonwealth Leadership Institute, a programme supporting emerging global leaders through training, mentorship, and international collaboration.
Ibrahim is planning future community-based art and health initiatives for Sudanese youth in displaced communities among other states in Sudan.
