Daniel Majok Gai and Isaac Khor Behr were only six years old when civil war broke out in their village in Southern Sudan. Fleeing their home and becoming separated from their families, Daniel and Isaac joined 30,000 other war orphans for a 1,000 mile journey to a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Walking barefoot, fighting enemy soldiers, starvation and disease, Daniel, Isaac and the other Sudanese children became known as the “Lost Boys of Sudan.”
After living in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya for almost two decades, many Lost Boys were brought to the United States by the United Nations. Daniel and Isaac were among those relocated to Denver. In 2004, they met school teacher Carol Rinehart and Project Education Sudan was born.
“After being separated from their families for at least twenty years, some Lost Boys who were resettled in Colorado are now being reunited with their families in Africa,” Rinehart explained. “Project Education Sudan has had the pleasure of helping make these reunifications possible.”
PES is a US 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization whose primary mission is to fund and support indigenous Sudanese organizations and communities that build schools and train teachers in rural villages in Southern Sudan. PES believes that sustained prosperity is dependent on the ability of children and adults to receive primary and secondary education and skills training.
“My dream for Lost Boys and Girls is ‘Education is our Father and Mother,’” said Majok Gai. “This quote wasn’t copied from somebody else, it came to the minds of the Lost Boys. Education is the most sustaining value and no one can take it away from you. It will repay what we have lost – the beloved people, land, resources, the love of parents for their children that have been lost so far. Nothing will bring it back but equal education for all.”
Rinehart said, “PES volunteers and the Sudanese Lost Boys and Girls have recognized what people in southern Sudan need and that need is equal education of genders. PES is aiming for equal education for all people in the three villages of Maar, Konbek and Pagook. As of today, Pagook is the third community in which PES has started building physical structures of schools.”
Several events to support PES will take place in Salida from Thursday, Sept. 10 – Sunday, Sept. 13. Events include a photo exhibition and presentation at the Salida Library, a public talk at Salida Middle School and a viewing of the documentary “God Grew Tired of Us” at the Salida Community Center.
On Saturday September 12, the Salida Circus will host a sponsored walk for PES. All members of Chaffee County are invited to join. The walk will start at Riverside Park at 1:30, rain or shine, and follow the Salida Trail. All monies raised from the walk will go directly toward the building of a school in the village of Pagook. Pledge forms for the walk can be downloaded from www.salidacircus.com.
“Coming together as Lost Boys and Girls with Americans who have opened their hearts, minds, and hands with any contribution will positively make impossible things possible,” said Majok Gai.
Schedule of PES events:
Aug 29 – Sept. 13, Photo exhibition at Salida Library,
Thurs., Sept. 10, 7 p.m. “God Grew Tired of Us” at Salida Community Center
Fri., Sept. 11, 2 p.m. Daniel Majok Gai to speak at Salida Middle School
Sat., Sept. 12, Salida Circus Sponsored Walk for PES, meet at Riverside Park 1:30
Sun., Sept. 13, 3 p.m. PES founders Carol Rinehart, Isaac Khor Behr and Daniel Majok Gai will give presentation in Salida Library community room.
For more information about PES go to: www.projecteducationsudan.org
Jennifer Dempsey is director of the Salida Circus – www.salidacircus.com