"The Lost Boys of Sudan" Documentary & Soloman Awan
Many of us have not had the experience where the need to flee our home was critical to our survival. Our lives have not been threatened to the point that we leave everything we own and love behind in order to seek safety and refuge. Our families have not been torn apart, loved ones killed or lost, nor have we walked in extreme heat for months due to war in our homeland. Soloman Awan was just one of many who experienced this trial as he is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. I had the pleasure of viewing the documentary, “The Lost Boys of Sudan,” and meeting Soloman Awan. This experience and story is something that has touched my life and has been a large contributor to getting me involved with the refugee program.
Prior to attending this event, I did not know much about refugees or the programs in which were available to them in the United States. I had heard that we had many coming here, but did not know much of their back story or where they were coming from. Honestly, I thought of the word “refugee” as another word for “immigrant”. Looking back on this reflection of myself, I am now ashamed of my ignorance and lack of knowledge. Originally, I attended this event for a class I was taking. I thought it would be something different that no one else would be doing in the class. My friend and I both attended and we were excited to learn more about the refugees, as we had just signed up to work with an organization. Little did we both know that this experience would make us change in a way that we never knew we would.
On September 1, 2016, my life was changed. As I sat down in the auditorium of the Salt Lake City Library, I was eager to learn. The movie started and it was then that I knew my life would never be the same. There was pain, trials, hatred; but there was also joy, relief, and hope. As I watched these men tell their stories of fleeing their homes, living in refugee for a few years before they had to seek yet another place of refuge and finally finding a final resting place of refuge opened my eyes. At point tears streamed down my face, other times there was laughter, but there was an overwhelming feeling that I must act. I knew that I had to do something to help those who had experienced this.
After the movie presentation, Solomon got up and gave a few words. He reflected on his own experience and how it had helped make him the man he is today. Solomon, at eight years old, spent a few months in the desert “running for my life” as he put it, in search for a place of refuge before landing in Ethiopia. He lived in a refugee camp for four years before he and the other boys had to flee again. This time they would land in Kenya where he would live until his early 20’s. One of 115 boys, Solomon was placed in Utah. He would then attend school, eventually getting a Master’s degree. Today he is married with three children, works with the Department of Workforce services helping other refugees find work and education, and runs a non-profit organization for refugees like himself. After hearing this amazing man speak and meeting him person, I shocked to see him so happy and positive, after having experienced such traumatic things in his life.
This experience made me want to act. It made me want to get up and do something, which I did and have. I took the things I learned that day and gained a new perspective on refugees. I learned what the word “refugee” actually meant and I began to educate those around me. Since this experience, I have become involved with an amazing refugee organization, “Because He First Loved Us”. I put together a “Go fund Me” campaign to raise funds that I could use for activities with the youth of the organization. I became a mentor for many of our young women in the organization and have worked with them to show them that they can accomplish anything that they wish for. I enacted a change not only in myself, but in the lives of others. My family now participate in our activities and donate to the cause. I have educated friends and family and am surprised at the amount of support that they have shown towards our organization. I have become very fond of our youth and engage with them and their families. Most of all, I have changed me.
Today, as I reflect on this experience, I am so happy that I took this leap and attended this very special presentation. I learned about another culture and its trials many have faced. I was shown that although there is hate in the world, it does not have to consume us. I met Soloman Awan and heard a beautiful story that changed my life. It was this very moment in time that I knew I needed more and I was going to achieve it through my Global-Intercultural Distinction.
Prior to attending this event, I did not know much about refugees or the programs in which were available to them in the United States. I had heard that we had many coming here, but did not know much of their back story or where they were coming from. Honestly, I thought of the word “refugee” as another word for “immigrant”. Looking back on this reflection of myself, I am now ashamed of my ignorance and lack of knowledge. Originally, I attended this event for a class I was taking. I thought it would be something different that no one else would be doing in the class. My friend and I both attended and we were excited to learn more about the refugees, as we had just signed up to work with an organization. Little did we both know that this experience would make us change in a way that we never knew we would.
On September 1, 2016, my life was changed. As I sat down in the auditorium of the Salt Lake City Library, I was eager to learn. The movie started and it was then that I knew my life would never be the same. There was pain, trials, hatred; but there was also joy, relief, and hope. As I watched these men tell their stories of fleeing their homes, living in refugee for a few years before they had to seek yet another place of refuge and finally finding a final resting place of refuge opened my eyes. At point tears streamed down my face, other times there was laughter, but there was an overwhelming feeling that I must act. I knew that I had to do something to help those who had experienced this.
After the movie presentation, Solomon got up and gave a few words. He reflected on his own experience and how it had helped make him the man he is today. Solomon, at eight years old, spent a few months in the desert “running for my life” as he put it, in search for a place of refuge before landing in Ethiopia. He lived in a refugee camp for four years before he and the other boys had to flee again. This time they would land in Kenya where he would live until his early 20’s. One of 115 boys, Solomon was placed in Utah. He would then attend school, eventually getting a Master’s degree. Today he is married with three children, works with the Department of Workforce services helping other refugees find work and education, and runs a non-profit organization for refugees like himself. After hearing this amazing man speak and meeting him person, I shocked to see him so happy and positive, after having experienced such traumatic things in his life.
This experience made me want to act. It made me want to get up and do something, which I did and have. I took the things I learned that day and gained a new perspective on refugees. I learned what the word “refugee” actually meant and I began to educate those around me. Since this experience, I have become involved with an amazing refugee organization, “Because He First Loved Us”. I put together a “Go fund Me” campaign to raise funds that I could use for activities with the youth of the organization. I became a mentor for many of our young women in the organization and have worked with them to show them that they can accomplish anything that they wish for. I enacted a change not only in myself, but in the lives of others. My family now participate in our activities and donate to the cause. I have educated friends and family and am surprised at the amount of support that they have shown towards our organization. I have become very fond of our youth and engage with them and their families. Most of all, I have changed me.
Today, as I reflect on this experience, I am so happy that I took this leap and attended this very special presentation. I learned about another culture and its trials many have faced. I was shown that although there is hate in the world, it does not have to consume us. I met Soloman Awan and heard a beautiful story that changed my life. It was this very moment in time that I knew I needed more and I was going to achieve it through my Global-Intercultural Distinction.
