Overcoming Adversity: The Journey of Sudan's Lost Boys

THE LOST BOYS OF SUDAN The lost boys of Sudan went through far more than the average westerner will go through throughout their entire life. They were forced to run away from their home, and wander more than 1,000 miles to the promise of safety. During this voyage they were struck by animals, disease, hunger, and dehydration. After living in such poor conditions they were thrust into western society without knowledge of how to shower, get a job, or maintain finances. With only four months of government aid, they were forced to find a job in this alien world. This paper will show the obstacles that these Sudanese boys had to overcome both in Sudan and The United States Of America. The lost boys of Sudan lost their parents during a

Wild animals such as lions and hyenas attacked them while disease crept into their community spreading rapidly between the tightly packed column of marching boys. Dehydration, overworking themselves, and lack of sleep led to exhaustion which hindered their progress. It is estimated three out of every five boys was killed one way or another. In The Lost Boys Of Sudan, by Mark Bixler, it says’ “Danger lurked everywhere. One night as they were walking, Jacob said, a lion emerged from tall grass and lunged at a boy in front of him, swatted his face as if he were a doll.” Boys like Jacob had to go through danger like this nearly every

They were fed one meal a day, and when had school from 7 am to 2 pm. They lived under a mixture of concrete, mud, and straw huts, and had little to do. As they grew older some went back into Sudan to find lost relatives or join the fight against the government, while others snuck farther into Kenya working as illegal immigrants. Most of the boys had an uncertain future in the Kakuma refugee camp. Immigration was the most common path for a lost boy to take. Great opportunities lied ahead of them, but they were hard to grasp. Being thrust into a modern world such as The United States without knowing how to get a job makes it nearly impossible to financially support oneself. Refugees stepped on a plain for the first time, went up escalators for the first time, passed fast food restaurants for the first time, however beforehand they thought those couldn't even