THE LOST GENERATION OF SOUTH SUDAN WANDERING AROUND THE WORLD: THE IMPORTANCE OF RESILENCE IN THEIR PLIGHTS AND HOW THE WORLD CAN LEARN FROM IT.

A long time ago around 1800s a prophet of Nuer named Ngundeng Bong said or predicted that, "Bec ni dor i wic car mi bi dap e nak bang ni." loosely translates, "The great pain is that there will be a black haired generation of South Sudan that will breed in vain." Before Sudan independence the former generation of South Sudan used to dyed their hair white and after independence that changed completely and now the new generation leave their hair black.

As a result of that prophecy since 1956 After Sudan independence South Sudanese have never live in peace because the independence of Sudan left all Black Africans, the South Sudanese out of civilization and the generation of South Sudanese back ground have been dying in war and half of them scattered all over the world.

THE MAIN CAUSES OF SUFFERING FOR SOUTH SUDANESE

Although there was independence of Sudan in 1956 South Sudan remained without schools, roads, hospitals, electricity or market. All South Sudanese remains second class citizens and that led to war immediately after independence.

That war between South Sudanese (Black Africans) and the North Sudanese, Arab descendants) led to the ruin of South Sudan. From there, all South Sudanese became homeless and majority left the country to neighboring countries and all over the world.

HOW I WAS PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THE WAR IN SUDAN, HOW I ESCAPED TO ETHIOPIA AND EVENTUALLY IMMIGATED TO CANADA.

In 1985 the problem of Sudan got close to our own family when the Rebel soldiers came and spent the night at our compound. While the rebels were in our village the Sudan government intercepts their presence in the area but the rebels also learned that they were intercepted and left the next morning.

In the afternoon of next day the Sudan government launched an attack at our village through air and ground forces.

The military jets and helicopters bombed our area killing people, killing cattles and burning down properties.

Luckily, my family and I were spared despite a hundreds of casualties on the ground. I remembered when a fighter jet flew over us just around 100 meters from above and my Uncle had a gun at that time and I remembered him shooting up on the fighter jet. With intensity of shooting and bombings I learned that a human being can survive any danger if their time is not yet come.

From that bombing I remembered a Nuer proverb that say, "A human being has an appointed time to live," or to say it in Nuer language, "Ran e yang Kuoth."

That's how I was saved and I am here to tell people to never give up in any situation. For those who find themselves in any danger situations keep your hope alive. From that Sudan war my family and I were not sure how we can make it out but we did. When it was dark, we went in the bush and walk all night to the border.

From there we left Sudan to Ethiopia and settled in a refugee camp called Itang. In Itang Refugees camp I learned that humans are generous and they can help people in need. I was surprised when I learned that the international communities were sending aids to Africa and as a child at that time I didn't know how they did it.

As a 7 years old kid I started going to primary school and when I learned how to read I can read on the back of rice bags and the gallon of oil, "From USA, From Canada, or From Norway etc."

Without those donors from International communities we could have not survived because our village was burned, our cattles for survival were also killed and our lives were in an existential threat from Sudan government. Thanks to international communities and now as one living in Canada I have an obligation to contribute as well.

When I was in Itang Refugee Camp I learned that people are good because we were treated with respect by Ethiopian people and we got food and other supplies from Americans, Canadians, Australians, Norwegian and Denmark donors.

However, in 1991, the Ethiopian government of Mengistu Haile Marriam was overthrown by a new government of Males Zenawi and we fled Ethiopia again back to South Sudan. At this time in 1991, the South Sudanese rebels led by Dr. John Garang De Mabior were still in fighting with the regime in Sudan but at the same time exploring peaceful avenues to resolve the long conflict in the world.

In 2005 a comprehensive peace agreement was sign between SPLM/SPLA, Sudan people Liberation Movement/Army and the war came to an end.

In July 09, 2011 South Sudan became independence from Sudan and they got their own country.

Before we the South Sudanese in Diaspora would want to think about going back to South Sudan to help rebuild the young nation another war broke out in South Sudan in 2013 between South Sudanese themselves. Now we are in dilemma whether we will ever go back to South Sudan?

WILL WE EVER COMPLETELY MAKE IT BACK HOME?

Because there is no peace in our country we still remain in host countries we live in all over the world and I don't know whether all of us would ever completely make it back home? To me, I don't take it as a priority to go back to South Sudan anymore because some of our people were born in abroad, grown up abroad and die in abroad and I believe anywhere we live is now a home for us.

CAN WE CALL ANYWHERE WE LIVE IN THIS WORLD AS HOME?

Since I came to Canada in 2004 I have been loving it and I think some people who made it in United states also love it there, some people in Australia also love it, some in Denmark or UK also love it there and there is nothing wrong that we can call everywhere in the world our home because we are received with open arms in all of these host countries and we feel home as well.

In my experience even though some of us will move back to South Sudan one day when there is peace, our generation born here in Diaspora will never go back because they identify themselves with the countries where they were born instead of South Sudan and that's okay with me if my kids would say they will stay in Canada forever. I will make Canada my home and work for betterment of it.

In conclusion, the problem of Sudan makes me to realize that we are all one as human beings and if you have a problem in your country don't ever feel that you are not member in other part of the world. There is unimaginable love in all human beings than we are expected

In this world we are one and have love for one another and I encourage each and everyone to build from that love instead of giving a chance to hate.

Now my dream is to support something great for better livelihoods in Canada and all over the world and not only South Sudan and I hope for better future for humanity.

May Peace and Love be with those who read my history