I’m guessing most of your wandering out too tall I must be well you are not
too tall I must be well you are not
too tall I must be well you are not alone not a single day in my life goes
alone not a single day in my life goes
alone not a single day in my life goes without was being asked how tall are you
without was being asked how tall are you
without was being asked how tall are you well these are not very Heights where I
well these are not very Heights where I
well these are not very Heights where I come from I was born in Sudan
come from I was born in Sudan
come from I was born in Sudan I grew up hiding my father’s cows along
I grew up hiding my father’s cows along
I grew up hiding my father’s cows along the plain of ribbon island bergüzar
the plain of ribbon island bergüzar
the plain of ribbon island bergüzar until my academic journey began it was
until my academic journey began it was
until my academic journey began it was my only life and my only wall how lucky
my only life and my only wall how lucky
my only life and my only wall how lucky I feel my personal experiences all right
I feel my personal experiences all right
I feel my personal experiences all right transition from looking for paths and
transition from looking for paths and
transition from looking for paths and water for my father’s cows to being a
water for my father’s cows to being a
water for my father’s cows to being a Harvard student and I’m so passionate
Harvard student and I’m so passionate
Harvard student and I’m so passionate about our collective effort to make
about our collective effort to make
about our collective effort to make education available for sausage and his
education available for sausage and his
education available for sausage and his kids for 21 years
kids for 21 years
kids for 21 years civil war went on in Sudan as citizen
civil war went on in Sudan as citizen
civil war went on in Sudan as citizen exp and the consequences directly or
exp and the consequences directly or
exp and the consequences directly or indirectly directly for those who lost
indirectly directly for those who lost
indirectly directly for those who lost their homes and families in some regions
their homes and families in some regions
their homes and families in some regions only kids survived recount the losses
only kids survived recount the losses
only kids survived recount the losses for those of us who were lucky there was
for those of us who were lucky there was
for those of us who were lucky there was no access to basic education health care
no access to basic education health care
no access to basic education health care and many other services that the
and many other services that the
and many other services that the government should provide but I was too
government should provide but I was too
government should provide but I was too young then to comprehend this mess
young then to comprehend this mess
young then to comprehend this mess around me so how did I get out of Sudan
around me so how did I get out of Sudan
around me so how did I get out of Sudan and why in general 2005 a cousin of mine
and why in general 2005 a cousin of mine
and why in general 2005 a cousin of mine arrived from Kappa refugee calm yet when
arrived from Kappa refugee calm yet when
arrived from Kappa refugee calm yet when asked by my brothers to bring me to the
asked by my brothers to bring me to the
asked by my brothers to bring me to the calm so that could also go to school
calm so that could also go to school
calm so that could also go to school just like them I remember that afternoon
just like them I remember that afternoon
just like them I remember that afternoon I was away from home playing with my
I was away from home playing with my
I was away from home playing with my friends when I came home that evening I
friends when I came home that evening I
friends when I came home that evening I had no clothes no shoes I was so shy to
had no clothes no shoes I was so shy to
had no clothes no shoes I was so shy to meet the visitor but that was normal in
meet the visitor but that was normal in
meet the visitor but that was normal in my wall my parent was so delighted the
my wall my parent was so delighted the
my wall my parent was so delighted the broken news to me that I would be
broken news to me that I would be
broken news to me that I would be leaving home to meet my brothers we’d
leaving home to meet my brothers we’d
leaving home to meet my brothers we’d left home in 1999 and 2003 for camera
left home in 1999 and 2003 for camera
left home in 1999 and 2003 for camera Finnick on the Left home so that you
Finnick on the Left home so that you
Finnick on the Left home so that you could also go to school it became my
could also go to school it became my
could also go to school it became my immediate motivation
immediate motivation
immediate motivation I was happy to leave one step closer
I was happy to leave one step closer
I was happy to leave one step closer meet my brothers we have been away for
meet my brothers we have been away for
meet my brothers we have been away for some time the last night before my epic
some time the last night before my epic
some time the last night before my epic journey begun relatives and neighbors
journey begun relatives and neighbors
journey begun relatives and neighbors came to wish me well speeches were made
came to wish me well speeches were made
came to wish me well speeches were made my father said the last prayer he
my father said the last prayer he
my father said the last prayer he touched my shoulder and speed in a jug
touched my shoulder and speed in a jug
touched my shoulder and speed in a jug of water and pour it on my feet as a
of water and pour it on my feet as a
of water and pour it on my feet as a sign of blessing then he said go out
sign of blessing then he said go out
sign of blessing then he said go out there and decide your destiny those who
there and decide your destiny those who
there and decide your destiny those who I didn’t mean much to me then by today
I didn’t mean much to me then by today
I didn’t mean much to me then by today that the driving force behind my
that the driving force behind my
that the driving force behind my academic journey we left the following
academic journey we left the following
academic journey we left the following morning passing through other villages
morning passing through other villages
morning passing through other villages to pick up more kids my cousin was half
to pick up more kids my cousin was half
to pick up more kids my cousin was half to bring the camera Vinnie come you must
to bring the camera Vinnie come you must
to bring the camera Vinnie come you must be wondering why were being picked up to
be wondering why were being picked up to
be wondering why were being picked up to be delivered the stable of refugees well
be delivered the stable of refugees well
be delivered the stable of refugees well leaving Sudan was our only or the best
leaving Sudan was our only or the best
leaving Sudan was our only or the best option of us ever going to school so I
option of us ever going to school so I
option of us ever going to school so I left home and we arrived in Kakuma in
left home and we arrived in Kakuma in
left home and we arrived in Kakuma in dream after 3 months and I went to
dream after 3 months and I went to
dream after 3 months and I went to school for the first time I was 9 years
school for the first time I was 9 years
school for the first time I was 9 years old
old
old training 10 what were you doing when you
training 10 what were you doing when you
training 10 what were you doing when you were 9 years old I was so disappointed
were 9 years old I was so disappointed
were 9 years old I was so disappointed when I landed my brothers were not in
when I landed my brothers were not in
when I landed my brothers were not in the come to another item with me that
the come to another item with me that
the come to another item with me that means it’s a turn was failure by the
means it’s a turn was failure by the
means it’s a turn was failure by the UNHCR hi there for dinner preciate that
UNHCR hi there for dinner preciate that
UNHCR hi there for dinner preciate that the life in the cup Madhavi come at all
the life in the cup Madhavi come at all
the life in the cup Madhavi come at all it was too hard too dusty too dirty and
it was too hard too dusty too dirty and
it was too hard too dusty too dirty and overcrowded at the same time often
overcrowded at the same time often
overcrowded at the same time often wondered why there was so many people
wondered why there was so many people
wondered why there was so many people around me until my cousin explained to
around me until my cousin explained to
around me until my cousin explained to me that we were refugees and what it
me that we were refugees and what it
me that we were refugees and what it meant being a refugee people can often
meant being a refugee people can often
meant being a refugee people can often to feel sorry for me once I landed I was
to feel sorry for me once I landed I was
to feel sorry for me once I landed I was wanted FEG
wanted FEG
wanted FEG because I know what it meant being a
because I know what it meant being a
because I know what it meant being a refugee especially in the current wall
refugee especially in the current wall
refugee especially in the current wall order being a refugee tend to rob you of
order being a refugee tend to rob you of
order being a refugee tend to rob you of your dignity as others see you a lot
your dignity as others see you a lot
your dignity as others see you a lot read one of my school met once asked me
read one of my school met once asked me
read one of my school met once asked me if my father had a gun and how many
if my father had a gun and how many
if my father had a gun and how many people I had personally killed I didn’t
people I had personally killed I didn’t
people I had personally killed I didn’t know what to tell him I had just become
know what to tell him I had just become
know what to tell him I had just become another victim of 0 times the crewel
another victim of 0 times the crewel
another victim of 0 times the crewel narrative that refugees are fighters and
narrative that refugees are fighters and
narrative that refugees are fighters and potential
potential
potential often with escape this misconception by
often with escape this misconception by
often with escape this misconception by interacting with my fellow students and
interacting with my fellow students and
interacting with my fellow students and letting them know barrier me meanwhile
letting them know barrier me meanwhile
letting them know barrier me meanwhile incident five the leaders of the rebel
incident five the leaders of the rebel
incident five the leaders of the rebel movement and the central government
movement and the central government
movement and the central government based in Khartoum settled their
based in Khartoum settled their
based in Khartoum settled their differences and we experienced relative
differences and we experienced relative
differences and we experienced relative peace for the first time in a long time
peace for the first time in a long time
peace for the first time in a long time in Sudan
in Sudan
in Sudan therefore Sudanese refugees in the calm
therefore Sudanese refugees in the calm
therefore Sudanese refugees in the calm while voluntary moving back to their
while voluntary moving back to their
while voluntary moving back to their villages or being encouraged to do so by
villages or being encouraged to do so by
villages or being encouraged to do so by the UNHCR this generated a concern in
the UNHCR this generated a concern in
the UNHCR this generated a concern in the camp that the UN might close down
the camp that the UN might close down
the camp that the UN might close down schools for children and my brothers
schools for children and my brothers
schools for children and my brothers knew if I were to go back to my village
knew if I were to go back to my village
knew if I were to go back to my village I would no longer go to school but
I would no longer go to school but
I would no longer go to school but fortunately a few of my cousin my cousin
fortunately a few of my cousin my cousin
fortunately a few of my cousin my cousin live in Nairobi in aerobic the capital
live in Nairobi in aerobic the capital
live in Nairobi in aerobic the capital city of Kenya and therefore moved on or
city of Kenya and therefore moved on or
city of Kenya and therefore moved on or some of the other and 5007 and I was
some of the other and 5007 and I was
some of the other and 5007 and I was enrolled in a boarding school where
enrolled in a boarding school where
enrolled in a boarding school where again I faced a new set of challenges
but nonetheless I get in that schooling
but nonetheless I get in that schooling in 2011 with the 4th highest grade in
in 2011 with the 4th highest grade in
in 2011 with the 4th highest grade in the whole country and the Kenya
the whole country and the Kenya
the whole country and the Kenya certificate of primary education exams
certificate of primary education exams
certificate of primary education exams it was an amazing news it change the
it was an amazing news it change the
it was an amazing news it change the trajectory of my academic journey it on
trajectory of my academic journey it on
trajectory of my academic journey it on me a place in the top school for boys
me a place in the top school for boys
me a place in the top school for boys ladies and gentlemen there’s no word for
ladies and gentlemen there’s no word for
ladies and gentlemen there’s no word for the opposite of loneliness
the opposite of loneliness
the opposite of loneliness if the Wow I would say that’s exactly
if the Wow I would say that’s exactly
if the Wow I would say that’s exactly what I missed after being away from
what I missed after being away from
what I missed after being away from family for 11 years I left the comfort
family for 11 years I left the comfort
family for 11 years I left the comfort of family love 12 years ago inside of
of family love 12 years ago inside of
of family love 12 years ago inside of knowledge I faced all odds an obstacle
knowledge I faced all odds an obstacle
knowledge I faced all odds an obstacle on the way but that life has had a way
on the way but that life has had a way
on the way but that life has had a way of growing me up testing my dedication
of growing me up testing my dedication
of growing me up testing my dedication and resilience to reach my goal more
and resilience to reach my goal more
and resilience to reach my goal more often than not I rise and embrace
often than not I rise and embrace
often than not I rise and embrace challenges often tell myself no matter
challenges often tell myself no matter
challenges often tell myself no matter what goes wrong they did not affect
what goes wrong they did not affect
what goes wrong they did not affect school if there are kids out there our
school if there are kids out there our
school if there are kids out there our day I would don’t believe in themselves
day I would don’t believe in themselves
day I would don’t believe in themselves let them know potential is inborn and
let them know potential is inborn and
let them know potential is inborn and universal only opportunities our
universal only opportunities our
universal only opportunities our resources are limited
resources are limited
resources are limited we can turn our disadvantages into
we can turn our disadvantages into
we can turn our disadvantages into advantages indeed it’s been a long young
advantages indeed it’s been a long young
advantages indeed it’s been a long young as young people in this world there are
as young people in this world there are
as young people in this world there are a lot of things around our necks
a lot of things around our necks
a lot of things around our necks what impaired our Herefords in achieving
what impaired our Herefords in achieving
what impaired our Herefords in achieving our goal
our goal
our goal it could be poverty or senseless civil
it could be poverty or senseless civil
it could be poverty or senseless civil wars in the case of South Sudan the need
wars in the case of South Sudan the need
wars in the case of South Sudan the need of education for young people in this
of education for young people in this
of education for young people in this world is real for example in South Sudan
world is real for example in South Sudan
world is real for example in South Sudan the other literacy rate is a mere 27
the other literacy rate is a mere 27
the other literacy rate is a mere 27 percent and 70% of children aged 6 to 17
percent and 70% of children aged 6 to 17
percent and 70% of children aged 6 to 17 years I’ve never set foot in a classroom
years I’ve never set foot in a classroom
years I’ve never set foot in a classroom and the completion rate from primary
and the completion rate from primary
and the completion rate from primary school level to high school is less than
school level to high school is less than
school level to high school is less than 10% and only 13% of all the school in
10% and only 13% of all the school in
10% and only 13% of all the school in the Republic can afford to provide a
the Republic can afford to provide a
the Republic can afford to provide a full cycle of primary school from grade
full cycle of primary school from grade
full cycle of primary school from grade 1 to grade age gender equality is
1 to grade age gender equality is
1 to grade age gender equality is another concern only 33 percent of girls
another concern only 33 percent of girls
another concern only 33 percent of girls are in school with the transition rate
are in school with the transition rate
are in school with the transition rate being less than 10% does mean 3 only 3.3
being less than 10% does mean 3 only 3.3
being less than 10% does mean 3 only 3.3 percent of God a past high school level
percent of God a past high school level
percent of God a past high school level or Primus flavor for that much did the
or Primus flavor for that much did the
or Primus flavor for that much did the math my generation is in in South Sudan
math my generation is in in South Sudan
math my generation is in in South Sudan in my language the word for perception
in my language the word for perception
in my language the word for perception is near we loosely translates to being
is near we loosely translates to being
is near we loosely translates to being aware of this is what education does to
aware of this is what education does to
aware of this is what education does to our people give her the new perception
our people give her the new perception
our people give her the new perception on a wider scale what Harvard and my
on a wider scale what Harvard and my
on a wider scale what Harvard and my instruction of the rest of the wall has
instruction of the rest of the wall has
instruction of the rest of the wall has given me the ability to see things in
given me the ability to see things in
given me the ability to see things in different lights education is important
different lights education is important
different lights education is important for oneself for family for community and
for oneself for family for community and
for oneself for family for community and the country therefore we need to make it
the country therefore we need to make it
the country therefore we need to make it available for children to make it to
available for children to make it to
available for children to make it to make it possible for children to go to
make it possible for children to go to
make it possible for children to go to school my parent wanted me in school and
school my parent wanted me in school and
school my parent wanted me in school and they conspired by sending me to a
they conspired by sending me to a
they conspired by sending me to a refugee camp my brothers wanted me to
refugee camp my brothers wanted me to
refugee camp my brothers wanted me to continue with education under conspired
continue with education under conspired
continue with education under conspired by sending me to
by sending me to
by sending me to boarding school I wanted to go to the
boarding school I wanted to go to the
boarding school I wanted to go to the top school for boys in the country I
top school for boys in the country I
top school for boys in the country I work hard and many people conspire to
work hard and many people conspire to
work hard and many people conspire to make it possible as I continue with my
make it possible as I continue with my
make it possible as I continue with my education I realized there are bigger
education I realized there are bigger
education I realized there are bigger goals out there I wanted to go to
goals out there I wanted to go to
goals out there I wanted to go to Harvard University and many people
Harvard University and many people
Harvard University and many people conspired to make it possible indeed
conspired to make it possible indeed
conspired to make it possible indeed there are a lot of things that we have
there are a lot of things that we have
there are a lot of things that we have to assemble to succeed and not everyone
to assemble to succeed and not everyone
to assemble to succeed and not everyone is able to do so I went back to my
is able to do so I went back to my
is able to do so I went back to my village after being away for 11 years I
village after being away for 11 years I
village after being away for 11 years I was so happy to meet my parents
was so happy to meet my parents
was so happy to meet my parents but it disappointed at the same time my
but it disappointed at the same time my
but it disappointed at the same time my eight mates are not going to school the
eight mates are not going to school the
eight mates are not going to school the younger people are not going to school
younger people are not going to school
younger people are not going to school we need we can change the narrative of
we need we can change the narrative of
we need we can change the narrative of south sudan by educating its young
south sudan by educating its young
south sudan by educating its young people making education available
people making education available
people making education available especially in the villages to give an
especially in the villages to give an
especially in the villages to give an incentive to parents and everyone else
incentive to parents and everyone else
incentive to parents and everyone else to work hard and send children to school
to work hard and send children to school
to work hard and send children to school my mother used to tell me how she always
my mother used to tell me how she always
my mother used to tell me how she always wanted to go to school but her dreams
wanted to go to school but her dreams
wanted to go to school but her dreams and aspirations were arrested by the
and aspirations were arrested by the
and aspirations were arrested by the consequences of civil wars he therefore
consequences of civil wars he therefore
consequences of civil wars he therefore made sure my brother and I wouldn’t
made sure my brother and I wouldn’t
made sure my brother and I wouldn’t follow the same path created by the past
follow the same path created by the past
follow the same path created by the past about a lot generation in Sudan I am
about a lot generation in Sudan I am
about a lot generation in Sudan I am currently working on a project with a
currently working on a project with a
currently working on a project with a couple of friends planning to go back to
couple of friends planning to go back to
couple of friends planning to go back to my village this summer to build a few
my village this summer to build a few
my village this summer to build a few classes for the local school so that
classes for the local school so that
classes for the local school so that kids wouldn’t have to go to refugee
kids wouldn’t have to go to refugee
kids wouldn’t have to go to refugee camps for basic education it’s an
camps for basic education it’s an
camps for basic education it’s an ambitious goal in which I seek our
ambitious goal in which I seek our
ambitious goal in which I seek our collective effort that’s my personal
collective effort that’s my personal
collective effort that’s my personal legend an ambitious goal would I believe
legend an ambitious goal would I believe
legend an ambitious goal would I believe when you purchase passionately want
when you purchase passionately want
when you purchase passionately want something the universe conspires to have
something the universe conspires to have
something the universe conspires to have you achieve it my successful academic
you achieve it my successful academic
you achieve it my successful academic life thus far is as a result of
life thus far is as a result of
life thus far is as a result of collective consideration conspiracies
collective consideration conspiracies
collective consideration conspiracies let’s conspire and make education
let’s conspire and make education
let’s conspire and make education available for kids in South Sudan thank
available for kids in South Sudan thank
available for kids in South Sudan thank you so much and I am only sick for
you so much and I am only sick for
you so much and I am only sick for [Applause]
”
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