Separated from Their Families

These lost boys were as young as five years old - out taking care of the cattle when Muslim armies from the north and their allies attacked. To survive they had to run into the bush many never to see their families again. Most family members were murdered or died from famine, disease; much of it caused by the effects of war.

          On the Run

Over a period of several years these young boys tracked thousands of miles on foot to Ethiopia then back to the Sudan and finally to a Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. They became each other’s family. The older boys became their guides. As they struggled to survive traveling barefoot, starving, constantly being hunted down by the northern army or lions and hyenas. Many lost their lives crossing the Nile River either drowning or being eaten by crocodiles. Others died of exhaustion, malnutrition and water born diseases. This true story is hard to believe and even imagine. However it is true and by the time the journey was over only half the original 40,000 survived.

             Eventually Help Comes

The American government saw the appalling conditions in the refugee camps and brought over 5,000 to the United States. They struggled to adapt to American culture and lifestyle and yet against amazing odds many of these young boys have pursued a college education and work very hard to survive here and to help their people back home. Many hoping through their education they can bring hope and everlasting change to Southern Sudan. 

These young men have a unique believe in how education is important to them and to young people in America and in the world. As they speak in many schools across the nation, they inspired many children who did not think what education really meant to them. You can listen to their stories. See the contact list and contact that is nearby or in your city. What would you take away from these boys? Look at their aspirations below:

There are more than 5000 lost boys arrived in US in 2001 to 2004

• 23% have been reunited with their families
• 37 % confirmed either mother or father alive but yet to reunite with their families
• 31 % confirmed lost all their parents; some of them siblings are alive
• 9 % still not sure of their parents alive or not
• 80 % of lost boys have already graduated from two or four years colleges
• 15 % still in colleges in undergraduate and graduate colleges
• 65 % hold professional jobs in the U.S
• Have organized total of 17 major organizations trying to rebuild “ War Torn region of Sudan-Southern Sudan)
• 75 % have already become US