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Rowan County,
NC
About
us
- The
inspiration for Sudan Rowan comes from “Lost Boy” Ngor Kur
Mayol. Ngor fled his village in the late 1980’s as a very
young child to avoid death at the hands of militants from
northern Sudan and was placed in refugee camps in Ethiopia
and then in the Kakuma camp in Kenya.
- In
2001 Ngor, now in his twenties, was transferred to the
United States by the U.S Government along with approximately
3,800 other Lost Boys in order to build a new life, become
educated, and hopefully create an avenue to help rebuild
South Sudan. Ngor was placed in Atlanta where he continues
to work and attend college.
- In
March 2006, Ngor, along with other members of his tribe’s
“Panaruu Community Association” visited South Sudan to
reunite with his surviving family members. While there,
Ngor was devastated to witness the suffering of his people
and determined to return to the United States to tell their
stories and to create a nonprofit that would find a way to
improve infrastructure in the areas of water, education and
medical help for Aliap, his home village. As a result, Ngor
spent a year speaking to community groups in the Atlanta
area. Although Atlanta-based aid groups such as Gabriel’s
Fund supported his efforts, no one was able to undertake his
specific project there.
- In
March 2007, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC
(Rowan County) hosted the film, The Lost Boys of Sudan
during its community Friday Night Movie. A local youth
pastor and advocate for the Lost Boys happened to attend
that event. The youth pastor introduced Ngor to several
local people interested in creating something positive in
Sudan. A discussion regarding a county-wide,
ecumenical/interfaith project began soon thereafter.
- Sudan
Rowan is one of many “grass roots” organizations from all
over the US and Canada inspired by “Lost Boys” making an
effort to help the South Sudanese become strong and self
sufficient.
- Sudan
Rowan is sending an entourage to the village of Aliap in
Unity State, South Sudan in from February 23 to March 6,
2009 to deliver school supplies. During that trip, we
discussed plans with village leaders on how to best further
the village’s current educational initiatives.
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