chris peken

Lost Boys History

Lost Boys History 2

Gok Deng - 23

"Our names and case was made missing. We don't know what really happened. We want somebody to check through our files. We were waiting for deaths but keep eating something."

Taban Manuel - 39

"Life was close to death when I fled from my village. We went to Ethiopia and back to South Sudan, then we came to Kakuma. I was promised resettlement to the US but nothing has happened. Our life in Kakuma was full of waiting but waiting for nothing to come. We are just left behind and forgotten."

Rebecca Abany - 34

John Maccine - 47 - and family

"I don't know my age when i arrived in Kakuma in 1992. I went to school here. Many of our friend got resettlement but in 2008 they closed our case and told us to go back to South Sudan. We refused because we don't have parents there and it was not safe. In 2010 the UNHCR told us to wait that they will look into our case in 2011. They was nothing years after years of waiting."

Adier Dor - 28

Deng Geng - 24

Akon Emmanuel Ngueny - 40

“We open the Kakuma camp and we're still in the camp. In May 1991 we run to forest, crossing many rivers with so many children. In February 1992, we reached a town called Gongle where we were rescued by Red Cross. There are about 100 tracks that collected people to Kapoeita while the war was intense. We reached Kakuma in 1992. Life was better at Kakuma. Many of our members were relocated to Canada and America. I never succeeded, it's a very long story and we were all very young."

Santino Deng - 25

"I run from South Sudan when our villages were bombed in Rumbek in 1993. I am the only survivor in my family. I arrived in 1997 and got registered as a minor at Kakuma. I am still here and have no place to call home."

Peter Obach - 29

“I was with the Lost Boys that ran to Ethiopia in 1987 returned back to South Sudan in 1991 at Pachala, I was with my uncle but he died so I joined other boys at Kakuma. I did the Joint Voluntary Agency (JVA) and was on waiting list to be relocated to United States but was cut in September 11, 2001 without any decision on my file. As long as I live, the troubles still recall in my mind, I have no home, no hope!"

Jacob Racch - 33

"I dont know my age when we ran from Sudan. When I was younger I was a runner, but that is long ago. We're all disturbed now, distressed. We've no place, no Sudan, no future, no parents. I have nothing more to tell you"

Philiph Thon - 29

Kout Atak Family - 30

“I fled Sudan to Ethiopia in 1988, it was better there. The journey full of horror. I returned to Pachala and there was no peace. With the fighting I ran to Kakuma. I was in the group to be resettled to United States but was cut out. I was waiting since they promised me to wait, living with no direction, no hope in life."

Arzen Garn - 23

Victor Garang - 36

"We can't make any changes to happen in our lives, we depend on other human beings"

Jacob Deng - 29