KELOLAND News has been following the story of a lost boy, now living in Sioux Falls, who has made it his mission to help his people back in South Sudan. And now anyone in Sioux Falls can also be part of the effort to educate African children.
The Kalkuma refugee camp in Africa is a world away from Sioux Falls but there is a connection here, albeit a lost one. Sioux Falls lost boy Atem Juowei is about to meet his two teenage brothers who are living here, for the very first time.
"They were actually very happy to see me, very excited I'm around. The brother is coming back. They hear about me but they wouldn't know who I am," Juowei said.
That's because Atem's terrifying journey out of Africa started before the boys were even born. Now Atem wants to get his brothers out of the dangerous camp with al-Qaeda influences.
"If you are a survivor, you can survive there. But that doesn't mean it's a good life in the refugee camp," Juowei said.
Atem was able to get them into a boarding school in Kenya, along with the help of local sponsors from Sioux Falls.
"Yesterday I talked to them. They were actually very happy that we sent them the money and they go back to school. They love school," Juowei said.
The goal is to eventually bring the boys to O'Gorman High School. But Mission Hope South Sudan has an even bigger task on its hands; the building of a library education center in Atem's home village.
"So we're asking for school supplies and also books, as many books as possible, new or used to fill the shelves. We want to have a full functioning library," Lisa Marie Johnson of Mission Hope South Sudan said.
Mission Hope South Sudan now has a store front on West 12th Street to take those donations and turn Atem's dream into reality. Once the supplies are gathered and money is raised, Atem will return to South Sudan in December to begin the building.
"We are very good to go and we will make it real," Juowei said.
You can drop of donations in the form of school supplies, books for money seven days a week, but there are limited hours.
For more information visit the Mission Hope South Sudan website.
© 2012 KELOLAND TV. All Rights Reserved.
Newer articles:
- South Sudan expects Uganda backing vs. Sudan - Fox News - 07/05/2012 16:51
- South Sudan official: Uganda must support South Sudan in border dispute with Sudan - Washington Post - 07/05/2012 16:45
- On Mother's Day -- a heart made by mothers in South Sudan for your mom - Fox News - 07/05/2012 15:59
- Dallas church raises $20K for wells in South Sudan - uuworld.org - 07/05/2012 09:09
- Henrico County event highlights plight of South Sudanese - Richmond Times Dispatch - 07/05/2012 06:00
Older news items
- Sudan President: Ties with southerners deep - KFVS - 06/05/2012 23:06
- Journeys for justice - The Register-Guard - 06/05/2012 20:47
- Bashir says wants warm relations with South Sudanese - Chicago Tribune - 06/05/2012 19:14
- Caf congratulates newly elected president of South Sudan FA - Goal.com India - 06/05/2012 12:00
- Sudan says South Sudan troops inside its territory - Chicago Tribune - 06/05/2012 11:15
Latest news items (all categories):
- رسالة مفتوحة إلى مدام لميس الحديدى - 01/11/2024 17:50
- Policy actions to strengthen Public Finance Management in South Sudan - 01/11/2024 15:30
- WFP Calls for Cash to Frontload South Sudan Operations Amid Warnings of Rising Hunger - 01/11/2024 15:26
- DTM South Sudan: Biometric Registration and Cash Assistance - Raja Town (October 2024) - 01/11/2024 15:23
- Urgent Call for Government Regulation of Land in the Capital Juba and other areas in South Sudan to Prevent Community Hatred - 01/11/2024 14:52
See also (all categories):
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan: Steps to Tackle Widespread Sexual Violence - 16/11/2014 23:06
- US 'closely' monitoring Sudan over embargo: aid chief - 28/08/2017 13:59
- White House condemns Sudan air strikes in South Sudan - MSN Money - 24/04/2012 18:00
- UN Resolution Supports Sudan Efforts - 19/03/2020 04:10
- Humanitarian community in South Sudan scales up response to save lives - 18/12/2020 03:09
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 54139 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22157 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21273 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 18708 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 17379 times