Live to Tell: Sudan's 'Lost Boys'
WASHINGTON, Nov 16 (OneWorld) - Three prominent media figures came together recently to share their accounts of Southern Sudan and its "Lost Boys" -- the thousands of young, male refugees who fled vast distances to avoid conflict in their home region. The discussion and film screening, held at American University, brought together international filmmaker Karim Chrobog, author Dave Eggers, and journalist/filmmaker Jen Marlowe of the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, to share their projects and experiences documenting the Sudanese Lost Boys. The Lost Boys refers to thousands of boys that were forced to flee their homes for refugee camps, Europe, and the United States during Sudan's 20-year civil war. The astonishing journey across Africa claimed the lives of thousands. Those that survived were often left with no family and no hopes of returning home. But the Lost Boys never forgot about Sudan or their families. Many, who now hold university degrees, are working to improve the lives of their fellow Sudanese. "Every Lost Boy is involved in some project to improve health and education at home," said Marlowe. One such Lost Boy, and the subject of Eggers' latest book, What Is the What, is Valentino Achak Deng, who, along with Eggers, traveled back to Sudan to improve the education system and infrastructure in his hometown. The trip was the subject of Eggers' presentation at American University. Eggers told of classrooms with students of all ages, many of whom either sat on cement blocks or had to carry chairs from home. With an education system in transition from Arab to English, the region is in desperate need for experts, especially teachers, experienced in working with non-traditional students. All of the proceeds from What Is the What will go to helping Sudanese, both in America and in Sudan. Many of the Lost Boys have since been able to reconnect with family or apply their education to the needs of their former hometowns. Lost Boys Gabriel Deng, Koor Garang, and Garang Mayuol recently traveled to South Sudan along with filmmaker Jen Marlowe and journalist David Morse with hopes of applying their education and medical training in their hometowns to improve the education and health systems. Marlowe documented the trip and presented a short clip at American University. During the trip, Marlowe also gathered thoughts and feelings from the Sudanese people in order to build a more complete picture of Sudan as a whole, instead of the individual spotlights of attention that constantly shift from Darfur to South Sudan and back. "We need to remove the spotlights and replace them with floodlights," said Marlowe, describing the need to view the problems and politics of all of Sudan's regions as parts of a larger whole. Still other Lost Boys are telling their stories in different ways. Former child soldier and subject of Chrobog's upcoming film "War Child," Emmanuel Jal uses music to tell his story of war, struggle, and orphanism. After years of struggling to survive alone, Jal now focuses on a message of peace and hope for Sudan and Africa through hop hip that is becoming internationally known. Chrobog showed a short clip from "War Child," which documents Jal's first visit to South Sudan since fleeing many years ago. Jal, who has been featured by the BBC and the New York Times, reconnected with lost family and friends and sought answers and solutions about the future of Sudan. Lost Boys from around the world are using their stories to raise awareness about the struggles in South Sudan and to offer hope for the future. Said Emmanuel Jal in his title track "War Child," "I believe I've survived for a reason to tell my story to touch lives." .................................................................................... Like this article? Then please support our global efforts to bring you the news and views seldom heard in mainstream media. OneWorld.net is non-profit, non-commercial public media. Every little bit helps, so thank you! Click here to help. ....................................................................................
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