The Lost Boys of the Sudan
A Compelling History
Bai Geng, Augustino Mayai, Augustino Mel and Kok Mayiik are four of the
founders of the Machara Miracle Network. They are some of the survivors
of a group of 40,000 Sudanese boys now known as the Lost Boys of Sudan.
Separated from Their Families
These South Sudanese boys (and a few girls), many as young as five years old, were in the bush taking care of the cattle when Muslim armies from North Sudan attacked. To survive they had to run further into the jungles and make their way out of the region. Many never saw their families again. Most family members who were left behind were murdered or died from famine, disease; much of it caused by the effects of war.
When villages were attacked, girls were raped, killed, taken as slaves to the north, or became servants or adopted children for other Sudanese families. As a result, relatively few girls made it to the refugee camps
On the Run
Over a period of several years these young boys trekked hundreds 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 the group 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 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
In 2001 the American government saw the appalling conditions in the refugee camps and brought over 3,800 to the United States. They struggled to adapt to the 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 and to help their people back home. Many hope that through their education they can bring hope and everlasting change to Southern Sudan.
A Compelling History
Bai Geng, Augustino Mayai, Augustino Mel and Kok Mayiik are four of the
founders of the Machara Miracle Network. They are some of the survivors
of a group of 40,000 Sudanese boys now known as the Lost Boys of Sudan.
Separated from Their Families
These South Sudanese boys (and a few girls), many as young as five years old, were in the bush taking care of the cattle when Muslim armies from North Sudan attacked. To survive they had to run further into the jungles and make their way out of the region. Many never saw their families again. Most family members who were left behind were murdered or died from famine, disease; much of it caused by the effects of war.
When villages were attacked, girls were raped, killed, taken as slaves to the north, or became servants or adopted children for other Sudanese families. As a result, relatively few girls made it to the refugee camps
On the Run
Over a period of several years these young boys trekked hundreds 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 the group 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 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
In 2001 the American government saw the appalling conditions in the refugee camps and brought over 3,800 to the United States. They struggled to adapt to the 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 and to help their people back home. Many hope that through their education they can bring hope and everlasting change to Southern Sudan.
