There is a major issue in Africa these days that not many
people know about. Is been going on since 1983 when north and south Sudan started
fighting over their resources and oil. The violence started in 1950 when the
north and south saw they had different religious views, many people were being
killed and raped it was due to that Muslim religion versus the Catholic
religion. Then in 1987 there was a ruling to kill all-male children. They were
brutally beaten and then killed. There was a movie created called Gods Grew Tired of
Us and it is about lost boys of Sudan who had to flee during the Civil War.
Their homes had been destroyed and many of them had to flee to Ethiopia in
order to survive. In order to escape the brutality they had to travel thousands
of miles into what they thought would be safe in Ethiopia. These boys ranged
from the ages of 5 to 10 years old and many had no families just had to take care
of themselves. They were left with no food, water or shelter and were forced to
eat mud and drink their own urine. Many of these young boys died along the way
and others were very ill. Once they reached Ethiopia they stayed for a minimal
amount of time but then they had to flee again to Kenya in order to be safe
therefore they had to walk through Sudan to get to the Kenya refugee camps. In
the refugee camps they would receive food and water and shelter even know it
was not enough for everyone. They had food rations and minimal shelter. These
young boys learned to take care of themselves and as they did they formed
families and started to help one another. The movie talks about three individuals named
Panther, John, and Daniel who were the lost boys. It talks about their journey
in the refugee camps and how they created your own form of government and how
they took care of each other in order to survive. They talk about how difficult
it was having to leave their homes and not know if their other family members
were still alive. In 1992the United Nations came in and helped these boys. They
gave some of these boys opportunity to travel to America in order to make a
living for them and be even get a higher educated. They were relocated all
around the United States such as New York and Pittsburgh. When the boys got there
they were given apartments and did not know how to use basic necessities such
as soap, toilets, showers, and certain foods. Once they were able to work, many
of them were working more than two jobs in order to make more money. They would
work a days and nights and send all of their money back to Africa in order to
help fellow brothers. They felt guilty being here and having to leave them
behind and know that they are living in better conditions but they saw that it
was important to be role models for the boys. They would show them that they
can excel and have a better life. We must help these boys survive and show them
that there is a purpose to their life. We must get involved and help them as
when they came here they started a
movement to educate others on the situation. As human beings we should all
be willing to help one another. These boys have been without families in need
help a small portion of money could get some food and shelter and what are they
need in order to survive. The boys have witnessed a lot having to leave their
homes at a young age from such violence. If you would like to donate money here
is a website
where there are lists of places you can. If you would like more information on
the boys and why they need help, look at the UNICEF website.
