How I found My Mother

By Ayeuil Agani

In response to this story students in Massachussetts fundraised money to send Ayuel to see his mother again for the first time in 15 years.

Ayeuil is one of the 'Lost Boys', a large group of refugee children, mostly boys, who fled their homes and walked for years in search of safety. They've been from refugee camp to refugee camp, some have fought in the war, but all of them have felt the devastating loss of the war. There were thousands of boys, and like Ayueil, many didn't know for years if their parents were alive. Although he seems like an ordinary American teenager, he is anything but ordinary. Ayeuil shares his beliefs about trust, American society, and his special relationship with his mother. He holds a typical teenage job at the local supermarket, however he sends this money to his mother so she can have a better life. Ayueil's story is one not often heard, not often told, but it is one worth listening to.

I am a Southern Sudanese from the Upper Nile region. I was born in an area by the name of Duk-padiet. I am a Dinka by tribe. My people speak both Dinka and Nuer fluently because our community borders Dinka and Nuer. Dinka is a major tribe followed by Nuer and many others as South Sudan is comprised of many tribes.

Sudan has been under terrible crisis for quite a long time as black Africans are being oppressed because of being black or simply because of being Christian. War started in 1983 and by then, Arabs were using all necessary means to win the war. Instead of looking for SPLA1 soldiers, they bombed and invaded villages of black Africans which they claimed to be the home of SPLA soldiers because the villagers were black and many SPLA soldiers are black. Our village was invaded in 1987, and I was separated from my father, mother, five brothers and two sisters. I later came to learn that my dad was killed in the incident. Each and every one among us ran his/her own way. I managed to disappear, escaping being killed or abducted. South Sudan is a Savannah land with a lot of trees and grasses so I hid in the bush for three days surviving on fruits. My God was with me as the area was full with a lot of wild animals. God is always with the poor and those who are in desperate need.

After four days, I decided to move East where I found five boys from different villages. I walked together with them for seven days. The area was very hostile to us; there was no food whatsoever and we had to survive with fruits because it was the only food available. As we walked, the younger two died of all causes, so we left them behind and continued walking without directions knowing that we, too, will die. On the 10th day, we reached a big river bordering Sudan with Ethiopia. We crossed over as all of us could swim. We found an old woman and she felt pity on us. We could not understand her because we were from different communities and so we had to use signs for communication. She ordered her daughter to cook food for us. We were given food, which we could not eat because it had been a long time that we had not eaten and so they gave us porridge instead. She gave us directions to a certain camp, Pinyundo, established for refugees. We walked 19 hours before we got to the camp.

We found the camp to be no better than being in the Bush were we could at least find fruits. No food was given to refugees yet and we had to survive from leaves which we could pick from trees and boil with water, adding salt, to eat in the form of porridge. A great number of "Lost boys" died in Pinyundo Camp as a result. I was ten years old and had to be strong as there was no way out except death. Two months later, maize was brought from Ethiopia. We gradually got better because there was nothing better than maize that we knew of.

In 1988, schools were built and all the "Lost boys" had to go to class with the exception of a few who had learned Arabic in Sudan. It was like we. It was like we had never before known the sweetness of education. We got use to it until war broke out in 1991 in Ethiopia between the former government of Mogistu and the current government. We were forced back to Sudan and many more of us drowned, were eaten by wild animals, and killed by hostile communities that we had to pass through. We got to a camp at Pachala. Hunger started again in Pachala and many of us starved and died because we stayed for two months without food. We had to survive on fruits from the local tree known as Wak. We were fortunate to be in Sudan because it has a lot of fruits and, without them, we would have died. When Pachala was under a dangerous attack from a Sudan government combardment, we had to evacuate on foot from Pachal to Kapoeta through Buma, Magose, and Narigil. The Red Cross facilitated our movement by giving us water and food on the way.

Many of the "Lost boys" were from Dinka and, of course, Nuer. Because Sudan is the home of so many tribes with different languages, some of us were killed around communities who did not know who we were or where we were from. These communities gave us the name of "Ajuel" which means bush men. The Sudanese government was after us, a large number of "lost boys", and wanted to kill all of us so that they could achieve their goal. Kapoeta was under heavy attack again so we had to move from Kapoeta to Nairus where we entered into Kenya through Lokichogio in 1992. Eventually we came to Kakuma in August 1992.

We were the very first people who established Kakuma Refugee Camp. Food was bourght and schools were opened under trees so that we could learn and later know what our problems were. After two years, school buildings were constructed and there we came to know the importance of education. I had to work hard on my studies and got sponsored by UNHCR because hard working students were being sponsored. I was taken to a Kenyan school in 1997 where I enrolled as a form one student. I worked hard on my studies and many of the "Lost Boys" thanked UNHCR for having opened schools to refugees. As a result many refugees got their degrees, diplomas, and certificates. In particular, I thank the American government for having introduced the "Lost boys" program to America. Though some are misusing their opportunities, they still deserve it. I would like to recognize the few individuals from Overseas who invested their energy in sponsoring some Sudanese "Lost boys". Non one will reward them but God.

The beautiful thing about education is that no one can take it away from you. It is the right possession that goes with you to your grave. All the rest of your things can be stolen, robbed, or destroyed, but education cannot. My greatest preoccupation, therefore, is to get to university so that I will be able to help others in return. I finished secondary school, but I did not go to university or college because of financial difficulties.

May God bless those who care for others as they do for themselves.

1. SPLA soldiers - the soldiers in the "rebel army" in Southern Sudan, fighting the majority Arab government/north. SPLA has enlisted child soldiers from time to time.

Discussion Questions

* What struck you most about Michael's story?
* Does his story inspire you to push for peace? How would you be able to help stop the crisis in Sudan? (brainstorm: write to the President, etc.)
* Why do you think education is so important to Michael? Is education that important to you?

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Helped by the IRC, Moses comes to America

This story was written by the International Rescue Committee. Please visit their web site for more information on the amazing work they do in Atlanta, Georgia.

Moses left Sudan in October 1995 because the government was persecuting his family. His uncle had joined the rebel forces in early 1995 so his family, including his nephew Moses, were interrogated by the government. Since Moses was the oldest male member of his family he was responsible for protecting them. His mother was afraid for his safety so she urged him to go to India to study. When Moses arrived in India, he applied for refugee status with the UNHCR and was eventually chosen for the resettlement program in the U.S. After three and a half years in India, Moses realized his dream of coming to the U.S.

He arrived in Atlanta, GA on September 14, 1999. During his first three months here, Moses received support from the Matching Grant program of the IRC, which provided him with employment services and as well assistance for things like rent and utilities. He then found various jobs at Target and at the airport so that he could make enough money to support himself and his family. Since he started working, Moses has been sending money to his family, his mother and 7 brothers and sisters, who left Sudan for Damascus, Syria in 1996.

IRC helped Moses to prepare the necessary documentation (an Affidavit of Relationship) so that his family can join him in the U.S. Moses sent in his AOR in August 2000 but so far he has not heard anything about when his family will be scheduled for an interview. He says that he is worried that the tragic events of September 11th will prevent his family from joining him, since the terrorist attacks have made the family reunification process more difficult.

IRC is helping Moses with advocacy and support while he waits for his family to be interviewed in Damascus, Syria. Moses says I wish that my family can join me so that my younger brothers and sisters can go to school, and the older ones can work so that we can support each other.