'Lost boy' of Sudan speaking Thursday

Loree MacNeill, CSC director of cultural programs and college relations, said Dau has an important message, and that she wants to introduce students and other community members to someone who has been a refugee.

“One of the reasons I wanted John Bul Dau to come to Chadron was for us to see, and maybe experience, what it means to be a refugee, because I don’t think we know that,” she said. “And there are 2 million refugees out of Iraq, let alone Afghanistan. This is something that, other than for disasters like Hurricane Katrina, that we don’t understand.”

Dau, who is now in his mid 30s and lives in Syracuse, N.Y., is featured in the National Geographic documentary “God Grew Tired of Us.” The film tells of Dau and about 27,000 others who faced starvation, disease, violence and other dangers in 1987 as they walked from Sudan to refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya during a civil war. Dau’s trek to Ethiopia took three months.

Dau and many of the other “lost boys” came to the United States in 2001 with help from a sponsor. He continues to raise funds for Sudan causes, including the formation of non-profit organizations and contributing money that he’s earned in the United States. While taking college courses, he’s been employed in fast food, manufacturing and security. He is studying public policy at Syracuse University.

“God Grew Tired of Us” and “The Lost Boys of Sudan,” another film about the plight of the refugees, has been shown at Chadron State free of charge leading up to the Dau’s presentation.

Reservations for Dau’s speech, which is part of CSC's Galaxy Series of cultural and fine arts events, are being encouraged. The tickets are available at the CSC Box Office, (308) 432-6360 or boxoffice@csc.edu.