Imagine being a 10-year-old trekking through 1,000 miles of desert without your friends, family or supplies. You don’t know what the future holds for you, whether that may be crossing the crocodile-infested Gobi River or having to avoid being caught in the middle of gunfire.
Abraham Deng, one of 20,000 “Lost Boys,” escaped war-torn South Sudan in hopes for a better future. On March 4 Deng came to East Granby Middle School to share his experience of leaving South Sudan to come to the United States and what he is doing to support his motherland.
After arriving in the U.S., he had his first American food—pizza. “When I ate pizza, I noticed it was very different from food back home; it had a sort of elasticity.” Like the pizza, Deng observed another type of flexibility that America had—freedom of religion. During this time, South Sudan was part of a larger country called Sudan. It was occupied by Muslims in the north and Christians in the south. From this, religious tension occurred and a war broke out. But, in the United States, Deng realized that people of different races, cultures, and religions could peacefully coexist. “It was so amazing,” he remarked. “People were living, working together and helping people that were different from them.”
Through this, Deng felt motivated to support his and other tribes, and started the organization, South Sudan Anti-Tribalism Movement (S.S.A.T.M.). The goal of this foundation is to foster relationships between tribes. In addition, it wants to build wells and schools. “This organization is supposed to give a fresh start to Christians and Muslims, and is meant to form forgiveness between the two groups.”
Throughout his speech, Deng emphasized the importance of community, faith and believing in yourself. To conclude this inspirational story, here is a quote: “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin” (Tony Robbins).