Who are these Sudanese?
This past January 9, 2005, the Peace accord in the Sudan was signed, hopefully ending the longest civil war in the world today! For 22 years, the Islamic Fundamentalist government of Khartoum has waged a war of genocide against the Christian South. Two million people are dead, four million displaced, one million in exile, and 70% of women are widows. The Lost Boys of Sudan were 4-8 years old in 1987 when war forced them from their villages. They traveled to Ethiopia, walking over 1,000 miles without adult companionship. Many were killed by the attackers, wild animals, or starvation. In 1991, they fled Ethiopia under fire again, finding their way through Sudan to Kakuma Refugee camp in Kenya. Nearly two-thirds did not survive the journey.
Coming to the United States !
In 2000, in an unprecedented move, the United States opened the immigration doors allowing what has become the single largest refugee settlement in our history. 3800 young men came during that early pre 9/11 period and a smaller fraction thereafter, with roughly 4500 here today. The philosophy of the move was to provide some hope to a group of ‘Lost Boys”. Hope for an education that in their words has become their “mother and father” and hope that one day they may be able to more fully help those left behind and of course their homeland!
What can you do?
Many of the Lost Boys have used their strong survival skills to overcome the natural barriers of a new language, new country, and very foreign surroundings. Their needs now are centered around the gift of time, and the value of education.
You can make a world of difference
Take a few minutes to review the web site...note the work we are doing, and get involved. there are many ways to make a difference!
“Ah, the land of whirring winds beyond the rivers
of Ethiopia, sending ambassadors by the Nile
in vessels of papyrus on the waters”
Isaiah 18:1,2
The time is Now !
|
