Lost Boys Reunited with Family

After a thousand mile journey across three countries facing starvation, dehydration and disease some made it to the refugee camps while others died along the way. The lucky ones reunited with their families and love ones.

By Nadia Phillips

Walking on the dirty pathway of Kakuma a midwife called Deborah Agok who just came back from Marial Bai, had big news for a “Lost Boy” from the same village , who lived in a house filled with other “Lost Boys” and her friend’s family in Kakuma. A feeling of excitement passed through her. She went inside the house that was filled with a lot of people, looking from one to another of the boys and in the corner she spotted the boy; his name was Valentino Achak Deng. She looked deep into his eyes and told him about a midwife and her husband who had lost a boy called Achak. Achak met her eyes and he knew she was telling the truth. Deborah asked Achak who his parents’ names were and he answered them full of hope. There was great tension in the room until eventually she paused “They are the same” she said “ Achak’s parents are alive.”(1)

Valentino recounted the horror of when his village came under attack. “She held my face in her hand and then slipped backward through the door. I heard her feet on the ladder and felt the hut shake with her descent. Then silence. A shot burst close now.” (2)

That was the last time Valentino saw his mother but he treasured that moment of tenderness. They both ran away from their home and he went to his aunt’s house to find a hiding place. He waited there as his mother had told him to but having waited for some time, set off to find a different hiding place. He ran as fast as he could though the jungle terrain. His heart was pounding , his feet were sore and his arms were badly scratched as he brushed against the vegetation in the jungle. He could hear the sound of heavy explosions in the distance so he kept on running away from where the sound was coming, simply running for survival

This was the tragedy of Sudan. Children who were loved by their families many of whom disappeared. Valentino wasn’t the only boy who was separated from his family. More than 25,000 boys suffered the same fate and their stories recount a brutal period in Sudan’s history and describe a lost generation whose only sin was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Airplanes roared over the top of the village called Bor. A big black container filled with explosives came down from the airplane and exploded when it reached the ground. Everyone was running away from the bomb and families were scattered, trying to save themselves. Michael Kuch was a boy in that village who ran away and joined the other “Lost Boys”. In 1991, when he arrived in Ethiopia, a civil war was breaking so, he went to an Internal Displaced Person Camp called Pachalla where food and medical attention were provided but the camp was bombed day and night and became unsafe to stay in. So he went to Kakuma, Kenya and stayed there for eight years. In 2000, he got an offer to go to the US and also around that time he found three of his siblings and all of them were given a chance to emigrate to Philadelphia. (3)

It was very easy for a boy to die in Sudan. There were many ways like being eaten by a lion or dying from starvation, dehydration or disease. When the “Lost Boys” were walking they had to survive by themselves in finding food or water and watch out for animals that could eat and kill them. When the Lost Boys slept, they slept in a large group on the ground. The boys at the end would have to watch out for animals. The older boys led the group. When many of them died along the way, some were buried while others were left.

What a contrast with life in America, where many of the boys ended up. They lived in apartments and went to school. Like other Americans the lost boys had to work to live. When they started to move to America the news spread to the whole country. Over the years, many books and movies were made about them. A high school student called Josh Millan responded to Dave Egger’s book “What is the What”, which was continued by the Drexel University Writing Program and Drexel University Alpha Kappa Psi, Chapter Eta Psi students. They raised $15,000 to reunite three lost boys with their families including Michael Kuch. Their mission was “To rebuild Sudan by fighting the residual effects of Genocide; and to empower the people through the values of community and self-sufficiency.” They focused on repairing the devastation that destroyed lives and communities in Southern Sudan through various funds and projects.

For the “Lost Boys” or Girls who wanted to be reunited with their family, they would have to join the writing program in Drexel university and from there they would be chosen.

Another reuniting project was made in Arizona. It started in late 1980’s when field workers came to visit the “Lost Boys” and documented their history. The Arizona Lost Boys Centre was chosen to host the files which were scanned and put onto a website. The database contained the records of 16,000 lost boys and 38000 pdf files.() Each pdf consisted a maximum of 8 lost boys and each record had 8 pages containing the boy’s origins, family members, the people they traveled with and also the people they knew were alive or dead. 75% of the documents contained photographs of the “Lost Boys”. These documents could be found in: www.lostboysreunited.org

Akech was one of the first “Lost Boys” who heard about the records. He was nervous and excited about what he was going to find out. When he turned to the page where people he knew had died he saw two of his uncles’ names which brought tears to his eyes. “I would not say I’m so successful, but I am,” (5) he said staring at his childhood picture. The things that some of the Lost Boys achieved in America were amazing, from a kid running away from the war and surviving without their families to becoming a person who had work and an education.

Dave Eggers gives a very moving account of Achak’s reunion with his parents when in 2003 he accompanied him to the town of his birth Marial Bai. He was reunited first with his father who was by then an old man toothless and frail and then with his mother. To quote Dave Eggers ”Through the settling dust ioet-clad woman of about 60, weathered and very tall, with small hard eyes and a thin straight mouth, approached Valentino shyly. “Achak,” she said to him quietly. I am your mother.”(6)

These are very personal recollections of war torn Sudan. Some experienced the joy of reuniting with surviving family members and loved ones. These are inspiring stories which describe the strength of the human spirit which not even war and brutality can destroy.

Bibliography

-Harris, Aja. "Sudan's 'Lost Boys' Reunited with the past." CNN. Cable News Network, 23 Mar. 2011. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. <http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/23/Sudan.Lost.Boys/index.html>.

-Adams, Paul. "Sudan's 'Lost Boys' Reunited with Their past in Arizona." BBC News. BBC, 04 Apr. 2011. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12916661>.

-"Sudan's Lost Boys Find Their Way Home." The Independent. N.p., 19 Apr. 2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/sudans-lost-boys-find-their-way-home-1948217.html>.

-"Lost Boys Reunited." -. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://www.lostboysreunited.org/>.

"Lost Boys of Sudan." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Boys_of_Sudan>.

"The Lost Boys of the Sudan." The Lost Boys of the Sudan. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm>.

"Lost Boys of Sudan Fill in the Blanks of Their Past." 21 Nov. 2010: n. pag. The New York Times. 20 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/us/21lost.html?emc=eta1&_r=0>.

"Lost Boys of Sudan Reunion Project." Lost Boys of Sudan Reunion Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://lostboysofsudanreunionproject.wordpress.com/>.

Matthews, Kevin. "'Lost Boy of Sudan' Seeks to Heal His Homeland." / UCLA Today. N.p., 20 Sept. 2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://today.ucla.edu/portal/ut/lost-boy-of-sudan-seeks-to-heal-171928.aspx>.

Meier, Tyler. "Reclaiming History." « Kenyon Review Blog. N.p., 20 Feb. 2011. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://www.kenyonreview.org/2011/02/reclaiming-history/>.

Kuch, Michael. ""Lost Boys" of Sudan Reunion Project." : SCARS. N.p., 30 Apr. 2008. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://lostboyreunionproject.blogspot.sg/2009/01/scars.html>.

Eggers, Dave. "The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation - Essay by Dave Eggers." The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation - Essay by Dave Eggers. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://www.valentinoachakdeng.org/essay_2.php>.

The Lost Boys of Sudan - more lost than ever

Looking to find peace and start new lives, many of the Lost Boys of Sudan struggle to surpass the countless obstacles they continue to encounter even after resettling in America. Some are still far from their happily ever after.

By Elisa Benham

Overwhelmed after arrival in the airport, an African Boy who stands out amongst the crowded terminal, walks dumbstruck admiring every aspect of what to him, is a whole new world. “We were leaving everything we knew, or thought we knew; each of us had only one small bag of possessions, and no money at all, no family where we were going. (1)” Valentino Achak Deng, a Lost Boy of Sudan couldn’t have hoped or dreamed of anything more than escaping the civil war which tormented his home country of Sudan for over 20 years. He was left bewildered with the idea that he was in the United States, over 10’000 kilometers away from the land he left only days ago. It didn’t take long before the cold started to frighten him as he began longing for the warmth of his home which he said goodbye to indefinitely. He could sense stares upon him and he already felt misplaced in his vast surroundings. His confidence began draining out of him but the worry which replaced it hid behind his enthusiastic smile. Even holding on to nothing more than hope, he took the opportunity of a lifetime by being resettled in America. He had the chance to create a future for himself and he was not going to let anything bring him down. Ever since he was forced to flee his home when attacked by government troops when he was only a child, he became one of the 20’000 Lost Boys of Sudan with no safe refuge until 4000 of them became the largest resettled group of unaccompanied refugee children in history. The U.S. office of refugee resettlement began bringing boys aged 16 and older over from 2001. Leaving Africa and the afflicted land behind them was truly a dream come true but stepping off the plane in the big Western country was the biggest step the fortunate Boys had ever taken. The stumbles which began to shatter their determination came hard as “The Lost Boys' of Sudan escaped civil war and came to America, with challenges less brutal but no less real.”

Peter Dut, a lost boy who arrived in Minneapolis was one of the many of the Lost Boys were shocked upon arrival in America as only a few days earlier he had been first exposed to simple features from light switches to a toilet flush. Even water running from taps and simple everyday household appliances were new wonders. Supermarkets stocked with more food than he had ever even seen in his lifetime fascinated him greatly as the simple food shopping experience was astonishing. Passing through it all, gazing at the wondrous objects which he dared not to touch, watching as people casually filled their trolleys with anything they wanted. He walked dazzled at everything from packaging to brands, repeatedly whispering names he saw to himself as each aisle brought more curiosity. Dog food and soap had never been seen through his eyes so when told the functions, he would nod almost with disbelief. Adapting and understanding all of these new concepts would take him time for Sudan was an estimated a few hundred years behind civilized countries; countries such as America. For the Lost Boys though, excited and full of ambitions, they imagined their bright future which lay ahead. “The words describing America had piled up without real meaning: freedom, democracy, a safe place, a land with food enough for everyone” Little did the Boys think that it would be far from that and their expectations were very high. "America wasn't paradise and it wasn't as easy as they told you in the camps”.

In the UN Kakuma refugee camp from 1992, the Boys stayed cramped together for over 10 years not knowing what their fate would be. They were coming from the refugee camp, where they were given food, owned their homes and got free education then suddenly to America, where they had to get their own food, pay rent and find themselves education. After using the first three months of rent and food cards they had been given, the Boys were forced to set out into the big cities to support themselves. Many of them even believed that they would be in school already after the first day of arrival but this wasn’t the case. They realised that they would have to save up for college with any job they could get hold of. A large majority are working in very low paying jobs earning no more than $10-20 dollars per hour. This money needed to pay for the essentials and then they could never let down their family back in the camp. Peter said "I came here to the United States. I thought I was coming to get education. I thought I was coming to try and gain something to help my people. But we don't get. We're just working for nothing." They have difficulty to find time for school whilst struggling to earn enough for the necessities. In 2002, 65% percent of the Lost Boys worked full time meaning that they did not attend school and 90% of those who did not work said it was because of their limited english. Loneliness and frustration haunt a large number of Lost Boys who could no longer recognize what had given them so much optimism. Valentino reveals “I pretend that I know who I am but I simply don’t.” Once full of dreams, going to America was all that anyone could think about as the first Boys began to leave the Kakuma camp. Celebrations took place throughout the camp as everyone anticipated news of their success. “Come back a successful man” was what Valentino’s father had said to him on departure. That is the reason why all of the resettled Sudanese feel obliged to send money back to their families, to help those who once helped them. They were not going to let their people down.

Already being lost in the big cities, not every American welcomed the Lost Boys with open arms. “It is hard to describe what others feel; when I pass by them they call me black and make racist remarks.” There were those who looked down on them and made them feel like they didn't belong. With the large adjustment the Boys had to face, Americans were not all very optimistic about how it would work out. There were of course Americans who volunteered to help them adjust and some families even fostered. The Boys whose ages were estimated under 18 by the UN, - as they did not know their ages on arrival, became the luckier ones who could attend High School but they were only a small 26%. Most of them have adjusted well to their new lives in comparison to the others. They did not need to worry about supporting themselves yet and were not thrown directly into the deep end as they had a family to take care of them. They could begin school whereas many Universities are not accepting the older Lost Boys because they are too old. Even the youths had difficulty adapting in different ways. “The youths do experience nightmares, homesickness, anxiety and depression. They miss their parents and friends” It is just as hard for Americans to understand them because the Lost Boys still feel lonely and do are not comfortable expressing themselves. Journalist Scott Peterson described them to be “among the most badly war-traumatized children ever examined.” When forced to run away from their villages, the Lost Boys set off together in groups to find safety from the violence everywhere they turned but had to walk over 1000 miles across Sudan without food or water, facing unbelievable dangers along the way. They may be safe now but they are still very lost.

"Imagine yourself landing in America with no financial resources and no support network. Strip away your parents, your family, education, money, housing, friends, neighbors who know you, all worldly possessions, language -- take all that away and what have you got left? How do you go about surviving?” These are the questions that really seem like mysteries. Realistically, these struggles could completely bring the Lost Boys down but although they have barriers to overcome which still remain to be fought, despite all, they realise that America has also brought light. It has brought them the countless opportunities to become new people, independent citizens and to be able to build a future. There are many who have become lost but there are more who are trying to think beyond the difficulties. They pulled through the loss of their loved ones, they walked through the country full of danger suffering severe starvation and dehydration, they witnessed deaths and more but still they are here in America, throughout all they survived. They persevere because they know there is suffering but they never stop having faith. Admitting that America is far from perfect: “This is a miserable place, of course, a miserable and glorious place that I love dearly and of which I could have seen far more than I could have expected”, it has become their home. Even as hard as it is, they know how fortunate they are to be in the big western country because there are still boys left in the Kakuma refugee camp. They know that America didn’t turn out to be their “forever after” but the resettled Lost Boys of Sudan still fight head high to find peace and happiness that they have been long awaiting.

Research Sources:

Eggers, Dave “What is the what”, Vintage books, United States, 2006

Corbett, Sara. "The Lost Boys of Sudan; The Long, Long, Long Road to Fargo." The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Apr. 2001. Web. 21 Mar. 2013:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/01/magazine/the-lost-boys-of-sudan-the-long-long-long-road-to-fargo.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

Muhindi, Masumbuko Martin and Nyakato, Kiganzi “Immigration of the Sudanese “ Lost Boys” in Boston, Massachusetts, USA 2002” (PDF):
http://web.mit.edu/cis/www/migration/pubs/Mahindi.pdf

Goffe, Leslie “Sudan’s Lost Boys in America” BBC News, BBC, New York Web. 31 Aug. 2004
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3602724.stm

Kohn, David. "Lost Boys II: Life In America." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 11 Feb. 2009. Web. 21 Mar. 2013:
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500164_162-322870.html

"Lost Boys of Sudan-where Are They Now?" MSUToday. N.p., 18 July 2007. Web. 21 Mar. 2013:
http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2007/-1/

Cat Le, Phuong “The Lost Boys of Sudan: Finding their way in America” Seattle Pi, Hearst communications Inc, Hearst Newspapers, Web, 18 Jul, 2001
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/The-Lost-Boys-of-Sudan-Finding-their-way-in-1060236.php

Weddle, David "New Struggle in the U.S." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, Web. 19 Aug. 2003.
http://articles.latimes.com/2003/aug/19/entertainment/et-weddle19

“Annual ORR reports to Congress 2002” Office of refugee resettlement, Administrations for children and families archive, U.S department of health and human services, Web 2002
http://archive.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/data/02arc9.htm

“God Grew tired of us: From Sudan to the United States” © National Geographic video, n/d
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/movies/god-grew-tired/from-sudan-ggtu/

The Lost Girls Of Sudan, Has Their Story Been Lost?

Sudan lost both girls and boys, yet only the boys got the proper acknowledgment for what was endured upon them.

By Suzanne Lambeek

A smile flashes across Yar Jok’s face as she looks up from her sheet of dirt stained paper. An abundance of letters, numbers and sentences are systematically scrawled across the page in her neat penmanship. Lead pencil smudges populate the palms and sides of her hands. She looks around the dirt-floored classroom, lone roots stick out around the wooden table that seats ten in Kakuma refugee camp’s school for dropouts. She sits quietly acknowledging that her future, however bright it may be, lies within this classroom.

Nobody understands better than the Sudanese youth about the importance of peace in their homeland. Sudan in the 1980’s, at the time completely war-enraged, was the catalyst as to why thousands of children, ranging from ages four to twelve, were forced to leave their settlements and villages and walk across Africa seeking a place of safety and refuge. The majority of these boys and girls were either separated from their parents in the disarray of the conflict, or orphaned in the process.

Achol Koul, a lost girl, was only seven when she along with her mother and her four brothers fled their hometown due to violence between government troops and rebels. It was an epic march as the family trekked across the African plains in a brutal attempt to survive. Somewhere in the bush, Achol lost contact with her mother. En route, they encountered and were forced to battle off horrific things such as militias, animals, and even life threatening disease. A lot of these things proved fatal to thousands. Eventually, the group found safety in Ethiopia, which was soon pronounced temporary with the break out of yet more conflict. With this, the group set off once again, with only hope to hang on to as they wandered on through the African desert. Around 20,000 of the lost boys and girls made it to their final safe haven that would later be known as Kakuma refugee camp, approximately 1,000-3,000 were girls.

Adeu, a girl who survived her wanderings, remembers crossing the River Gilo located on the Sudanese-Ethiopian Border.

“I can remember being held by two of my uncles who were helping me across. One of them was swept away and that was the last time I saw him. I was later told he had been eaten by a crocodile.” (1)She shared

“There was little water to drink, we survived on leaves and wild fruit” another girl, Achol, remembers “Some of the girls were eaten by lions.” (2)

When the villages were first attacked, the majority of the children who escaped were busy herding cattle in the fields, when the children saw the villages burning, they fled into the bush. These children were mostly boys, as the girls were usually in the villages, cooking or cleaning their homes. The girls were often killed or kidnapped by the invading enemy. Few girls did manage to escape, however, hence the difference in numbers when it comes to the survivors.

The story of the children’s journey soon gained international attention, and the group as a whole soon became known as ‘The Lost Boys’. The boys remained a reasonably distinguishable group, and the United States eventually agreed to the resettlement of 4,000 of the refugees, 89 of which were girls. The boys became instant celebrities, interviewed countless times by the media about their journey and struggle for survival. Forgotten in all of this were the fates of the other hundreds, if not thousands of girls who still remained in Kakuma Refugee Camp. The girls’ request for equal treatment was simply declined.

Of course, there were still thousands of boys left in Kakuma. However, the treatment they underwent is incomparable to that of the girls. Being born a girl in Sudan means facing completely different ordeals, consequences and treatment.

“In our culture, women are being dominated” (3) Grace Anyiek, a lost girl, explains.

Following Sudanese traditions, the majority of these girls were left to live with so-called foster families, many working as domestic servants. the girls were raped, abused, and often sold off to men who would pay the foster families so called ‘bridal fees’ ranging anywhere from five to fifty cows.

Arranged marriages are big business in Sudan. Several attempts have already been made to kidnap the lost girl, Achol Koul in an attempt at forced marriage. She thinks that this is only the beginning, and that her kidnappers will soon return and repeat the attacks. She is afraid that one day she will be married off. The first suitor offered her foster parents a total of 50 cattle, and she fears that a huge sum such as this one will one day win over her foster parents.

Yar Jok cannot recall when and where she lost her family along her journey. She was just a young girl of nine years old when she was chased out of her village. When she arrived in Kakuma she, too, was adopted by foster parents. One night in Kakuma, a man entered Yar Jok’s hut. He stuffed her mouth with a piece of cloth to prevent her from protesting, and then raped her. In Sudanese society, the victim of a rape is often considered guilty and is frowned upon.

“If people got to know I had been raped, no man would want to marry me” (5)Yar Jok Shares.

As a result, she made sure nobody found out about the attack. However, Yar Jok soon discovered that she was pregnant, and her secret grew harder and harder to maintain, until it just became obvious to the Sudanese community that either she was the victim of a rape, or the pregnancy was intended. Upon this discovery, the refugee society rejected her and her foster parents abandoned her. She was left alone for a while, but eventually moved in with a woman from her mother’s original clan. She is now forced to live with the fear that the rapist will one day return and claim her daughter as his own.

Near the entrance of Kakuma Refugee Camp, a withered sign reads that ‘Woman Rights Are Human Rights’.

What is puzzling about this is that the slogan has not yet been put to practice. They say gender equality is crucial. So they say, anyway. Some things are easier said than done, even if doing them isn’t even that hard in the first place.

Sudan has always faced many challenges in regards to gender inequality, but why is it that the girls got the worse side of the deal? Difference in numbers can’t be the sole reason for what is going on here. The answer goes as follows; Culture. Tradition. Routine. It is important to respect these things for what they are. Nonetheless, Sometimes, the moment culture and routine is ruled out of the picture, is the moment that is needed for change to happen.

17 year old Grace Anyieth is yet another girl living in Kakuma Refugee Camp. She is among thousands of girls who have not yet seen much evidence of this motto being put to use. She lists her chores: cleaning, cooking, fetching water from the stand-pipe, washing, looking after her foster parent’s children. In other words, Grace is an unpaid slave.

"Why not the girls? I would have liked the chance to go abroad. You can be free there. Free to work, free to study."(6)Grace explains her frustration.

No matter how limited, education is the one thing that offers these girls a future. It is the one thing that possesses that little bit of hope that keeps them going. Although not many have gotten the chance to climb aboard a gleaming aircraft and embark on a journey to a foreign country, at least education offers them a sliver of hope. Almost like a promise that the next time that airplane is about to take off, they’ll be on the other side of the window.

Sources:

Adeu http://www.ivillage.co.uk/women-refugees-the-lost-girls-sudan/80016

Achol Koul http://www.ivillage.co.uk/women-refugees-the-lost-girls-sudan/80016

Grace Anyiek http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2031286.stm

Yar Jok http://www.ivillage.co.uk/women-refugees-the-lost-girls-sudan/80016

"Women Refugees: The Lost Girls of Sudan." IVillage UK. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 June 2013.

http://www.ivillage.co.uk/women-refugees-the-lost-girls-sudan/80016

BBC News. BBC, 06 July 2002. Web. 18 June 2013.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2031286.stm

SPLA: An Army Of The People, For The People

by Avi Dixit

As children sit down everyday in class and talk about peace and improving our world, Emmanuel Jal reminisces about the times when he held a gun, being forced to kill anyone and everyone in his way.

SPLA were known to be the blackguards in the conflict. However they have changed Sudan for the better, so far fewer people have died, and finally there is peace.

Recruited as a child soldier and defending his principles like his father had, wasn’t exactly something that Jal had enjoyed doing.

Jal says “I don't know where to begin, or where to start. I was born in war torn Sudan. I do not know when I was born, but I believe I took my first breath of air sometime in the early 80s.”

Jal was born in Sudan, the largest country in Africa but brought up in Ethiopia. Sudan was a place for hope, dreams and huge growth. Regrettably, the religious war forced them to lose two decades of progress development.

Sudanese People Liberation Army, or SPLA, was originally founded in 1983 by John Garang, a Sudanese rebel who wanted to fight for freedom of their religion, Christianity. War broke out when the North decided that everybody should follow Islam, their religion, but Southern Sudan on the other hand were not giving up on Christianity.

This led to the first Sudanese conflict which lasted for over a decade.

"SPLA was fighting in self-defense, which is our legitimate role to protect the territories of South Sudan," said Aguer one of the soldiers who fought.

For years on end, the SPLA was at war with the Sudanese government for their religious rights. After much blood, sweat, tears and two civil wars, which lasted more than a decade each, this battle was finally dying down. As the FAS say, “By 1986 the SPLA was estimated to have 12,500 adherents organized into twelve battalions and equipped with small arms and a few mortars. By 1989 the SPLA's strength had reached 20,000 to 30,000; by 1991 it was estimated at 50,000 to 60,000.” As the strength of this army grew, the protection of South Sudan was inevitable. Just eight years ago in 2005, there was some modicum of peace between the North and South Sudan.

Unfortunately, today this calm has been shattered and there is regular bombing and shooting at the border and all around the nation today. “Armed rebels that South Sudan believes are backed by Sudan opened fire on a United Nations convoy on Tuesday, killing five U.N peacekeepers from India and at least seven civilians,” officials said on the 10th of April 2013.

Over time, in addition to fighting for religious rights, the SPLA has evolved into a group fighting for control over oil with clear commercial objectives. Their tactics, weapons and strategies have all become much more sophisticated. Due to this, they are often perceived as the offenders.

Even with the death of John Garang, the former leader of the South Sudan army, the SPLA are not done. 80 percent of the oil refineries situated in Sudan are in the South, close to the border with the North. SPLA is fighting to protect these assets which provide employment and funds for the growth of Southern Sudan. In this way, they are ensuring that growth of people remains steady in Southern Sudan which is one of the many positive outcomes of this entity. Jal has also found another way of bringing hope for Sudan and that is through the music he writes and performs.

Jal is what every Sudanese war soldier would want to be. He survived and now is living a life full of optimism. He is an example for all due to his perseverance and not giving up attitude. After struggles that killed many, Jal found that making his own music was something that he could use to heal the people of Sudan. As he says, “A unique form of hip hop, not only healed the wounds of his former life but helped spread a message of unity and peace around the world.” After all this success, he created a group called Gua Africa which helps the Sudanese warriors that were unlucky during the war by assisting them.

Jal is now very popular in Sudan because of what he has accomplished. Donating money to those in need and raising awareness for all his fellow friends. He remembers his younger brother holding on to his pants whilst they walked and hugging his legs as planes crashed the sound barrier above whilst dropping bombs trying to penetrate South Sudan.

To many others around the world Jal is an inspiration. He fought for years on end and he persevered. He worked hard and believed in hope. Look where he is now. The day when he talks in front of crouds all listeners are inspired.

Nevertheless, he still remembers the early years. Holding a gun. Fighting for his nation.

Sources:

"The Manifesto of the Sudan People%u2019s Liberation Movement." The Manifesto of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement | splmnsudan news. splmnsudan news, n.d. Web. 25 March 2013.http://splmnsudan.net/en/the-manifesto-of-the-sudan-peoples-liberation-movement/.

"New Sudan Vision | splmnsudan news." New Sudan Vision | splmnsudan news. splmnsudan news, n.d. Web. 25 March 2013.http://splmnsudan.net/en/category/new-sudan-vision/.

Hennessy, Selah. "Amnesty International: Arms Imports Fuel S. Sudan Violence." Amnesty International: Arms Imports Fuel S. Sudan Violence. n.p., n.d. Web. 27 March 2013.http://www.voanews.com/content/amnesty_international_says_arms_imports_fuel_south_suden_violenc….

"South Sudan profile." BBC News - South Sudan profile - Timeline. BBC News, n.d. Web. 27 March 2013.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14019202.

DOKI, CHARLTON. "5 UN troops, 7 others killed in South Sudan - World news - Mideast/N. Africa | NBC News." 5 UN troops, 7 others killed in South Sudan - World news - Mideast/N. Africa | NBC News. NBC News, n.d. Web. 11 April 2013.http://www.nbcnews.com/id/51477787/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/un-troops-others-killed-sou….

February. "Sudan: A Historical PerspectiveMan has lived in the Sudan for at least nine million years and the valley of the Nile which wanders more than 4,000 miles from the lakes of Central Africa to the Mediterranean may well he the cradle of civilisation rather th." History of Sudan and Timeline. Sudan, n.d. Web. 11 April 2013.http://www.sudan.net/history.php.

"Marriage Greetings | Marriage Greeting Cards | Free Greetings | Marriage Hindi Cards | %u0935%u093F%u0935%u093E%u0939 %u0917%u094D%u0930%u0940%u091F%u093F%u0902%u0917 %u0915%u093E%u0930%u094D%u0921." Marriage Greetings | Marriage Greeting Cards | Free Greetings | Marriage Hindi Cards | विवाह ग्रीटिंग कार्ड. Marriage Greetings, n.d. Web. 11 April 2013.http://greetings.webdunia.com/hindi/marriage/vivaha-ki-shubhkamnaye-1482.html.

by Anthony Dane 

Sitting alone, quietly beside a beautiful, peaceful pond in Simsbury, Connecticut Francis Bok watched the sunset and the darkness overtake the night. In the back of his mind he knows that he has survived yet another day without any harm done to him, while thousands of others are still where he once lay. He slowly rifled through the memories in his past which he had endured and tried to construct together a reasonable story of probably what was the most traumatic experience of his life. Tomorrow morning he would have to make his way to an all girls school in Simsbury, where he would be one of a few guests that would share their story to young girls who might question the amount of scars on his head. For now, his main challenge was making his way back home in the dark, alone. He listened one more time to the wonderful birds chirp, but it was unfortunate that he would never be able to see these exotic creatures. Francis was blinded years ago by his savior, his master.

For almost two decades of Francis Bok’s life he and thousands of other Sudanese lived as slaves to Arabic owners, treated as if they were dogs and beaten daily. It all begins with innocent, harmless young children one unlucky day getting abducted from their villages by Northern Sudanese militias, brutally beaten but only left them alive so they could live through the journey to the north, where they would continue their suffering as slaves to Arabic families. He was one lucky slave who made it out alive and was chosen to end his horrific history in Sudan and move to the United States of America. But memories still haunt him without mercy.

Africa has endured slavery for centuries now, with many forms and purposes. Modern day slavery in Sudan started 30 to 40 years ago, during the Second Sudanese civil war. Those who were captured from the south were brought up north, and many of those captured were Christians. Being Christian had a major impact on how the Arabic people in the north treated them, because when the Southerners refused to convert to Muslim, the punishment would get even worse. According to CBS news, slaves were/are being sold at approximately $50 dollars apiece. It is almost like trading animals.

One particular kind of slavery was known as military slavery, where slaves would be turned into soldiers and obeyed the rules of a Patron. A patron could be an independent warlord or the head of a government and could use their slave troop for money purposes or his own political interest. Military slavery was well known in the Nile valley, in parts of Uganda and Sudan and was organized by Islamic authorities and other war chiefs. The military units in Sudan were formed sometime during the 1800s through large-scale military raiding in areas that are now Sudan and South Sudan. It is believed that during Sudan’s long history, at one point either Arab warlords or European invaders enslaved one third of the population.

Slavery may have began a long time ago in Africa, but it reached its highest, worst point in the 1980’s, when the northern government allowed the idea of capturing benign children, burning down their hometown and killing everybody else.Many of those southern villages were weak and defenceless,one example being Francis Bok’s.

What began as any normal day for Sudanese man Francis Bok ended in the hell of being captured into child slavery that would change the rest of his life. Bok was only seven when one fine morning, his mother sent him to the local market to sell peanuts and eggs for the family. All of a sudden Northern Sudanese men raided the village, storming in with horses and weapons, viciously slaughtering the men and capturing the women and children. Francis was taken by these men, whipped and was brought up to northern Sudan. There an Arab man would buy him, officially making Francis his own slave. From then on it would only get worse…

When the North and South of Sudan were at war, it is estimated that up to 8,000 Sudanese 1 people were caught by Arab militants, and brutally brought back to the north where people (mainly Arabs) could buy these slaves. Those who were not caught by the militants were killed or escapees. A large percentage of the slaves are from the South, in villages that were burned to ashes by Arab invaders. This was a brutal time during Sudan’s history and is sadly still going on today. Slaves are horribly treated, and if their owner did not like them, they would have the right so simply discard the slave however they wanted.

Francis Bok, merely a teenager at that time was in charge of all the cattle that belonged to this Arab man. The only major difference between the animals and Francis Bok was that, unlike Francis, the sheep and cows actually got food and water to eat, and had shelter that they could sleep in. One morning a couple of animals escaped from the barn, and the owner punished Francis so brutally, flesh was peeling, and his face was burning because of the acid poured on it.

One fortunate boy who had escaped the wrath of his Arab owner returned back to Southern Sudan and explained his story to BBC, talking approximately what 90% of slaves are treated and taken care of. “I had to look after the cattle, goats and sheep. I was only given leftovers to eat and sometimes nothing at all. One day, a cow went missing and I was beaten so badly that my right arm and leg are paralyzed.” Marko Akot Deng Akot. This story from Marko relates to so many more slaves out there, cattle farming is a major part in the Northern Sudanese people’s lives, but it was not a job (to take care of the animals and farms) for the owner, but for the slave.

The Commission for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children, or CEAWC, is an organization set up by the Sudanese government in 1999 after an international outcry over the enslavement of southerners by northerners. This was one of the organizations that after realizing how bad the slave trade issue got decided that they wanted to get involved, and save these slaves.

After years of enslavement and pain Francis Bok endured, CEAWC rescued him and many other slaves from the vicious Arabic owner. CEAWC transferred money and goods in return for these slaves. They were eventually brought back to Southern Sudan, either to start a new life or to find their long lost relatives.

One other Sudanese explained the hardship of slave trading, even witnessing it with his own eyes. "In my area of 5,800 households, 300 children were abducted - 50 have returned. This has really affected the region. The parents have now grown old and the children should be looking after them. You can often see the parents getting drunk in the market. They have lost hope and self-respect." Deng Pioth Yai, local chief.

One non-governmental organization, called the Anti-Slavery International (founded in 1839) sent two representatives to Sudan in the year 2000. It has a registered charity in England and has connections to the United Nations. In recent years this organization has been heavily focused on child labor, bonded labor, trafficking in persons and forced, early marriage. These four things are all related to the situations going on in Sudan, especially child labor and early marriage. Since 2000 they have been, whenever possible trying to fight the situation going on in Sudan, along with other organizations such as Save the Children and UNICEF, but it is not enough. Slavery is still going on today. Francis Bok is one example of a leadership role for the ones who have lost others, who have lost everything but them. He started a fresh new life, trying to forget the past and simply try your best to move on.

Slavery has not only affected people physically, but mentally. It has been going on for far too long and the example by Deng Pioth Yai was just in one village, the effect that slavery had on them. Imagine all the hundreds of other different peaceful villages that got captured and burned down, and all the people’s dreams turned to ash. If countries want to really go around promoting human rights for everybody, a change has to be made now, at this instant. The situation going on in Sudan is merely in one country, and look how bad the situation has become: Families torn apart, parents losing hope and giving up on life. Imagine the other 54 countries in Africa, and the total effect slavery is having upon us.

Francis Bok arrived back home almost like a war veteran, only to find out that his whole family was burned alive when his village was burned down, years ago. There were others who survived the attacks, but when questioned about Bok’s family, none wanted to tell him the truth. Francis Bok is now in the process of building a new life for himself, forgetting his history, even though he knows that deep down those memories will never stop haunting him.

The Boys’ Wings of Hope

Resettled in the foreign land of America, the Lost Boys struggle to find an identity,
a home and they are as lost as ever.

By Molly Sunwoo

I was walking back home from work, exhausted. I was working as a laborer then. It was the worst job for someone as weak and skinny as me but I didn’t have many choices - $8.50 per hour as a ticket clerk just wasn’t going to earn me enough money for an education. When I opened the door of the apartment, I was surprised to find my American ex-girlfriend lying down on the sofa, humming a tune I wasn’t familiar with. I had broken up with her a week ago. After sending me endless texts and phone calls, and now, entering my house without permission?! It was ridiculous. Was this a part of American culture as well?

We had a huge dispute that night. She refused to break up with me. Suddenly, within the blur of the situation, I felt a hand strike across my face as she screamed, “You’re just a refugee here in America. I can kill you!” 1
Panic and fear building up inside me, I frantically pushed her out of the house and shut the door. She continued screaming outside the door for a few hours but even after she left, I could hear her furious voice echoing through my head, ‘You’re just a refugee here, I can kill you.’

Just a refugee.

I can kill you.

Peter Deng remembers one of the most horrific days of his past. His voice, strained, as he mentions that he had to place a restraining order on this woman. Besides this incident, Peter has been through several other terrible experiences in America. Within the first year of his arrival, he was assaulted, carjacked, fined $1,200 for driving without licenses, - which no one taught him was needed - and was falsely accused of fathering a child. As he lists each event, his body tenses, as if reliving these traumatizing days.

Peter now insists on staying home, for fear that he might be assaulted or be sent to jail for false accusations. He has simply given up trying to fit in - like a glass piece dropped to the ground, Peter’s determination has shattered into pieces.

“If I go to public places, the mall or a club, somebody might hurt me for that,” he says, with a voice drenched with fear. 2

It is undeniable that there were great physical sufferings for the Lost Boys in Africa. But back then, they relied on one another and supported each other. In America, most of the Lost Boys are outsiders, turned down, with no one to turn to. Just as Peter experienced, they are often harshly mistreated and pointed at for their dark skin tone. They are neither Sudanese or American anymore and rejected from society as they strive to find a home.

Though, of course, when Peter first arrived in Phoenix in 2001, he was thrilled, just as any other, completely unaware of what may be waiting for him. “So I was thinking that America is a good country. Maybe if I go there I will make money; I will go to school.” he says with a faint smile. 3

After years and years of aimlessly roaming around Africa, constantly chased by war and poverty, the Lost Boys seized any opportunities to escape.

This seemingly endless journey started when the Sudanese Civil War spread to Southern Sudan in 1987.

Nearly none of the native villages escaped from the abrupt strikes of the government and the murahaleen - arab militias on horseback who were armed by the Sudanese Government to attack SPLA and the Dinkas. Those who survived the raids would hide or run until they met other signs of settlement. Separated from their families or sometimes sent willingly by their parents, a total of 27,000 young orphaned boys and girls gathered, soon forming the ‘Lost Boys of Sudan’ and starting their walk towards safety.

Constantly running from violence, these boys were never able to settle down completely. Roaming around the endless continent of Africa, the boys spent 4 years in Pinyudo Refugee Camp, 9 years in Kakuma Refugee Camp and 1 year during a walk to Kenya. Wounds on their bare feet became deeper and deeper and every day was a new nightmare. “We chewed tall grasses and ate mud to stay alive.”4 John Bul Dau frowns as he recalls his walk.

Until finally, they caught the world’s attention and opportunity was in sight. Their simple wish became crystal clear them - to feel safe, to stop worrying, and live a life of peace and serenity.

Hence, when the US started resettling some of the Lost Boys to America in 2001, they grabbed it without any hesitation.

Jany Deng, is one of the exceptionally fortunate former Lost Boys who found a place in America. He was remarkably lucky to graduate high school, followed by university and in May 2005, become a US citizen. Now working as the Program Director at the Lost Boys Center for Leadership Development in Arizona, Jany works towards helping fellow victims of the war in Sudan and acts as a role model to most other Lost Boys.

But until now, Jany has had an extraordinarily painful past.

One of the first to leave the chaos in Sudan, Jany and his older brother, Simon arrived in America together in Phoenix in 1995, before most others. Unfortunately, they were separated straight away in America, as Jany (then 16) was put with foster parents while Simon (then 23) was placed in a small apartment shared with a few others. This was a common method in resettlement - the younger boys were given better environments and circumstances.

But regardless of age, whether the lost boy lived with a caring foster family or lived alone or with a few strangers, made an indescribable difference. Living conditions were the start of their new life and it could either act as a shadow or sunlight to their futures.

Though Jany started attending high school straight away, Simon could not. Already too old, no opportunities of education were provided for him. While constantly being chased by bills and economic struggles, Simon also had difficulties coping with racial discrimination. Living in his tiny apartment with a few other strangers, he was quickly filled with isolation and loneliness in an unfamiliar land. Depression soon crawled into his life - soundless, yet menacing.

Simon had landed in America with his determination strong, ready to fight. But every disappointment feeling like a punch in the gut, it didn’t take long for him to simply put down his weapons and give in.

Jany mentioned, by 1997, two years after his arrival in America, Simon had ‘grown despondent’ 5 and ‘began to speak of suicide’. 6 Completely different from his previous occasionally dispirited moods, he was constantly sorrowful.

A while after these observations, Simon Deng died in the same year. Driven from mental instability, Simon was shot by the police while damaging a Catholic Social Services Building with a pistol.

His brother’s death was an unbearable shock to Jany.

“Why here?” he asks. “He could have died over there. I could have died over there,” he says quietly, voice shaking. “The way it happened, it was not a good way.”7

America was an escape from war and violence for the Lost Boys. But, are they really safe? As a result of great social and economic difficulties now their most dangerous threat is essentially, themselves.

Around 80-90% of the Lost Boys resettled in America suffer a mental disorder called PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Caused by traumatic past experiences such as war, sexual assault, natural disaster and more, it is only natural that PTSD is exists within the Lost Boys. Though, through research, it has been proven that their current environment is also a large development factor of PTSD and that patients often experience lack of sleep, anxiety, nightmares and flashbacks.

It is a true tragedy that these bright boys are shadowed by such struggles. Still taunted by their past, they are being pulled back, unable to move on.

And because they were brought apart from their culture, family and are isolated in a foreign land among strangers, the Lost Boys often have no one to talk to, let out their troubles and feelings, which forces them to keep it all in.

Just like Simon Deng, who was not able to build personal and intimate relationships like his younger brother. Who, at the end, was left alone and helpless, to the point where he slowly cracked.

This heartbreaking story of Simon is what the majority of the resettled Lost Boys are going through. After all the deprivation in Africa, it only takes them one moment, one single moment, to let go of the willpower that kept them through their entire journey.

In the unknown land, they are fragile.

And these unfortunate yet brave boys deserve to be accepted and embraced. Like beautiful doves, wings broken from their horrible history, with love, their wounds can be bandaged, damages cured. And with encouragement, a helping hand, they can spread their wings and fly away, leaving their past behind.

References:

1. "SALON." Saloncom RSS. Leigh Flayton, 26 Aug. 2005. Web. 26 Mar. 2013.<http://www.salon.com/2005/08/25/lost_boys_3/>

2. "Boston University." Browse. N.p., 6 June 2005. Web. 26 Mar. 2013.<http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/news/releases/display.php?id=951>

3. "Sudan: The Passion of the Present." 'Sudan: The Passion of the Present' N.p., 30 Sept. 2005. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.<http://platform.blogs.com/passionofthepresent/2005/09/equipping_lost_.html>

4. "Impact A Village – Blog." Impact A Village Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://impactavillage.org/blog/?tag=deng-jongkuch>

5. "ExplorersBio." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr.
2013.<http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/bios/john-bul-dau/>

6. "Sudan: The Passion of the Present." 'Sudan: The Passion of the Present' N.p., 30 Sept. 2005. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://platform.blogs.com/passionofthepresent/2005/09/equipping_lost_.html>

7. Collom, Lindsey. "Stress Issues Still Plague 'Lost Boys' of Sudan." N.p., 7 Apr. 2008. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.<http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0407lostboys0407.html?nclick_check=1>

8. Weddle, David. "LA Times- Lost Boys of Sudan." LA Times- Lost Boys of Sudan. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.<http://www.lostboysfilm.com/articles/laTimes.html>

9. "Lost Boys of Sudan." WolfWikis RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. <http://wikis.lib.ncsu.edu/index.php/Lost_Boys_of_Sudan>

Slavery in Sudan

The most serious failing of mankind today

by Ruchir Arora

The wind was gentle and steady. Thin veils of clouds hung in the sky. It was a steel gray morning. Thousands of birds hidden in the trees broke out in a spontaneous melody. Ker Aleu Deng an Sudanese teenager, walked in timidly and came to a large uninviting door with brass hinges and a giant knob. He was warmly welcomed in this building, which the Americans call Capitol Hill. His hands were trembling and stomach, queasy from anticipation. It was a cosy place which boasted of simple clean lines with urban furniture. He stopped and remembered what all he had gone through and at that very moment his lost eyes turned cloudy. Suddenly a huge crowd along with the interviewer rushed towards him and he began. He began to tell about his quest to retrieve his own existence and the world needed to know the horrifying truth of his past. He mustered courage and he started narrating about his devastating truth. (8)

One of the most serious failings of mankind is the inability to abolish slavery. Slavery is a civil relationship whereby one person has absolute power on another and controls his life, liberty and power. Even-though slavery was made illegal in the US in 1863 it still forms dark clouds in many nations around the world. Though slavery is not legalized anywhere in the world, the number of slaves today is higher than at any point in history. It is still existent in many areas of the world, including Sudan. (1)

Sudan is one of the largest countries of Africa, located in the North East of the continent. Slavery has been endemic in Sudan for thousands of years now. There have been more than 2500 people enslaved until today in Sudan. Statistics show that around 60% of those abducted were taken to the northern Sudan by either the murahaleen or government created bodies. It is hard to imagine that slavery still exists in Sudan; in today’s era of technologies.(1)

Deng does not know where he was born, all he remembers is living in North Sudan with his mother and his slave master Zakaria. When Deng was young, his mother told him several times that his father was dead and also the fact that they were captured by Zakaria and all his other relatives were taken away by the Arab troops, named Murahaleen, as a result of the civil war.(7)

The Civil war that existed for more than 20 years between the Northern and Southern Sudan gave rise to slavery. Sudan has been at war with itself for more than 3 quarters of it’s existence. The reason for the conflict is the cultural and religious divide that characterizes the country. Northerners have traditionally controlled the country and have sought to unify it along the lines of Arabism and Islam despite the opposition of the non-muslim, christian southerners and marginalized people in the west and east. This was more than a conflict between the Northern and southern Sudan, a religious conflict between Islam and Christianity . (4)

Deng’s main work was to collect and pick hibiscus leaves for tea. Deng found Zakaria a very violent man because he often hit Deng and his mother by whipping them. At times he would beat Deng and his mother to such an extent that they would need to run to the neighbors for protection. Since his mother was a concubine to Zakaria, she had several kids with him who in front of Deng slowly disappeared without his knowledge. Deng gave a lot of respect to his Zakaria however he would always call him by bad names like “Jengei”, “abd” and “Kafir” as well. Also Deng was given an arabic name and sent to an Arabic school and was forced to not follow his religion christianity. Deng was entirely deprived of his identity.(7)

Thousands of women and children who are captured in this course of raid are forced into different kind of abuse including forced labour as domestic workers, cattle herders, marriage and even rapes. Some were sold or given to others as presents or even hired and given out as casual workers.All the money often went to the owners.In most cases the slaves were ill treated and subjected to physical abuse. Separation from families and taken to communities of which they haven’t even heard of makes it more easier for them to go into trauma and depression and the same time vulnerable to abuse and torture. (1)

“I was treated worse than the animals I slept with. Like them, I was property,” Deng later told lawmakers at a House Foreign Affairs Committee panel hearing on US policy toward Sudan.

“But the animals weren’t beaten every day. I was. Every single day, with a horsewhip… The animals were fed every day. But I wasn’t.” Said Deng in an interview.

The history of Sudan also contributes a lot to the existence of slavery in Sudan. After ancient Egyptians came to Sudan, prisoners were taken as slaves by the Nubians in Sudan centuries ago. Soon after the Arabs conquered Egypt, they tried to conquer the Nubian region, however their efforts were unsuccessful. During this time a treaty was signed between the Arabs and the Nubian, according to which Nubians agreed to supply 360 slaves annually to the Arabs, After the fall of the Nubian kingdom the Funj came into existence, who also used slaves in the army in the reign of Badi. After their own fall this region became notable for slaves under the reign of Mohammed Ali. (2)

One day some animals whose responsibility was Deng’s, escaped. Zakaria thought that this was purposely done by Deng and the fact that he thought that Deng had left hibiscus leaves because of which the animals escaped. Zakaria was very furious and decided to punish Deng . Zakaria tied Deng to a tree and Deng was hanging upside down. Then Zakaria took huge amounts of chili powder and smashed it into Deng’s eyes. To make things worse Zakaria put a fire to create a burning sensation. Deng was blinded with fear as he tore off into utter darkness. His entire body trembled for days and he was arrested by sheer panic. His own voice struck terror in his heart. He was tongue tied and remained motionless for days later until he was rescued by one of his neighbors Bakhit. He could not see anything after a few days and his vision deteriorated day by day and was later sent back to his village.(7)

Another reason is poverty. Most of the people in Sudan are either into farming or cattle herding. But because of the unpredictability of rainfall, shortage of water during the dry season and cattle raiding there is high poverty. Moreover the civil war destroyed the entire city economically so poverty existed and still exists in huge abundance and this was also one of the reasons which fuelled slavery. (3)

Lack of Proper law and governing bodies is another major reason. The Sudanese government did not have any control on the people, had no command over the nation , did not have any well built technology and infrastructure and had no support from other nations. These were the reasons which contributed to Deng’s devastating past. (3)

The government of Sudan until the year 1991 did not consider slavery as a crime but just a result of inter -tribal welfare. Human rights watch rejects this and also blame the Sudanese government for backing up the Arabs and supporting them in their acts. That is why Sudan has ratified slavery convention, the supplementary convention of the abolition of slavery, the slave trade and the institutions and practices similar to slavery. Because the Dinka communities persuaded the communities of Korfordan and Darfur the Minister of Justice established the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children (CEAWC) on 15 May 1999 for the safe return of women and children to their families. It was mandated to investigate reports of abduction, and to bring to trial anyone suspected of supporting or participating in such activities. Several communities and even the people of the Dinka community who are helping free these slaves face numerous difficulties in carrying out their work. They have faced threats and some have been killed. Funding also continues to be a major obstacle.A comprehensive peace agreement was signed in 2005, and a new constitution, which criminalizes slavery, was adopted. However, the abduction issue has still not been fully considered and reflected upon, and the majority of those enslaved have not been released. Furthermore, once released, there is no proper support to help these slaves adjust back into their communities and to consider their education and health needs. (1)

Deng was taken to the US for treatment of his lost eyes. Deng gave an interview in Capitol hill telling his dreadful story to the world. He wanted to spread awareness and the world to know that such major social inequalities still exist today. His goal is to set all sudanese captives free and to be like his rescuers. Deng has great willpower because of which he is now getting back his vision and live a normal life. He has started getting education and also plays the piano as a hobby. He is a good example of a slave who has come out of his trauma and become one of the successful slaves but not all slaves are able to overcome this trauma.(7)

“I must get my soul back from you; I am killing my flesh without it.” Situations are now slowly getting better. They thrive for their existence every single day of their life. Love is the answer as it can mend even the deepest wounds. Love can heal, love can strengthen and yes love can make the change, love is the solution. Its time now to help these people free from atrocities and trauma and at the same time reunite with their families however slavery cannot be tackled in isolation, it is tied to other social and economical problems in Sudan and communities are helping by addressing these problems in different ways however we all can help by spreading awareness and by running charities for these poor people.Do you think that the slaves who are free know are happy and safe? Most of them are still in trauma they need love and if we can even give them the small gesture it will make them feel that there are people for that slave .And with our and several communities efforts, in the future there will be no more Moses and Deng anymore.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(1) -"Slavery in Sudan." Anti-Slavery. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.

http://www.antislavery.org/english/what_we_do/antislavery_international_today/award/2006_award_winner/slavery_in_sudan.aspx

(2) "Slavery in Sudan." Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation, 19 Apr. 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_Sudan

(3) http://www.heritage.org/index/country/sudan "Sudan." Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 June 2013.

(4) "Slavery in Sudan - the Evil Lives." Yahoo! Contributor Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.http://voices.yahoo.com/slavery-sudan-evil-lives-258807.html

(5) "A Brief History of Sudan - Part 1." About.com African History. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.http://africanhistory.about.com/od/sudan/p/SudanHist1.htm

(6) http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/home/tags/sudan "Home - Rural Poverty Portal." Rural Poverty Portal. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.

(7) "Keer Aleu Deng." Keer Aleu Deng. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. http://csi-usa.org/Ker.html

(8) http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/October/Lost-Boy-Begs-US-to-Help-End-Sudan-Slave-Trade/"Christian Broadcasting Network." 'Lost Boy' Begs US to Help End Sudan Slave Trade. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.

(9) "Sudanese History: The Slave Trade." Sudan Sudanese History Slavery Slave Trade. N.p.,n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.http://histclo.com/country/afr/sud/hist/sh-slave.html

(10) http://www.sudanupdate.org/REPORTS/Slavery/slave.htm N.p., n.d. Web. 13 June 2013.