Since 1983, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Sudanese government have been at war in Southern Sudan. The civil war already has claimed more than 500,00 lives and displaced close to 5 million people over nearly 20 years. Among these were at least 20,000 children, mostly boys, between 7 and 17 years of age who were separated from their families and loved ones. After being separated from his family, Samuel Kuek walked across thousands of miles, barefoot and nearly nude – away from his family and cattle-herding culture to Ethiopia. There he lived in a makeshift camp for four years until a government change forced him out again.

For Samuel, and eight others now living in northern Nevada, the journey began in the late 1980’s. They were small boys forced to flee the bombing of their homes on southern Sudan after decades long civil war with most Muslim Sudanese to the north. “We had three choices,” said Samuel. “We could become Muslims, we could become soldiers and fight to protect ourselves, or we could become refugees. We chose to protect our lives.”

“In Ethiopia, in 1991, war broke out and we ran,” said Samuel, 21. “There was a lot of water on the way and we came to the Gilo River. We remained but the rebels started shooting and we ran near the river and the soldiers kill a lot.” Milling around the riverbank, boys who couldn’t swim hung onto a rope stretched across the river. “They cannot rescue all of us. The rope was the way to survive,” Stephen said. “Leave the rope and you’ll die.”

Wandering across Africa, they finally reached a United Nations camp in Kenya. In February 2001, Samuel boarded his flight to the United States and arrived with few possessions other than his Bible, a few clothes, some family photos and a passion for life and learning.

Samuel’s story is an example of resiliency, faith and determination. As Stephen reflects upon his long journey he smiles and says, “we will survive again in America. The more you learn, the more you can achieve your life vision.