"They poured fire..." The lost boys
In 1987, at the age of 5, Ajak fled his village in Southern Sudan joining 20,000 other boys in a journey across the country that would be plagued with imprisonment, murder and starvation...
Ultimately ending up at a refugee camp in Northern Kenya, these boys (now adults, and many living in the United States) came to be called "The Lost Boys." Ajak's story and the story of many others are the source for the book "They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky," and the film "God Grew Tired of Us," winner of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.
In 2001, with the help of the International Rescue Committee, Ajak was relocated to the United States. He boarded a flight on September 11 that was diverted to Canada from New York after a view from the plane revealed the twin towers aflame. Two weeks later Ajak arrived in San Diego, where he currently resides.
Sudanese refugee, "Lost Boy" and co-author of Los Angeles Times Best-Seller "They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky" Benjamin Ajak will address attendees of Alliant International University's Multicultural Community-Clinical Psychology Spring Forum and Alumni Reception on April 19th at Bistro restaurant in Alhambra.
Ajak will be joined by co-author Judy Bernstein who met the authors through her work with the International Rescue Committee in San Diego. Along with Alliant Professor Elaine Burke, they will present "Refugee Experiences & Coping with Trauma," a discussion of the ethno-political crisis in the African country of Sudan, which has led to the displacement and refugee status for many citizens including a number of young men who were subsequently called the "Lost Boys of Sudan." Oscar Githua, M.A. (a Kenyan national and a student in our Forensic Program), who has worked with African refugees, will be facilitating the discussion.
Ultimately ending up at a refugee camp in Northern Kenya, these boys (now adults, and many living in the United States) came to be called "The Lost Boys." Ajak's story and the story of many others are the source for the book "They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky," and the film "God Grew Tired of Us," winner of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.
In 2001, with the help of the International Rescue Committee, Ajak was relocated to the United States. He boarded a flight on September 11 that was diverted to Canada from New York after a view from the plane revealed the twin towers aflame. Two weeks later Ajak arrived in San Diego, where he currently resides.
Sudanese refugee, "Lost Boy" and co-author of Los Angeles Times Best-Seller "They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky" Benjamin Ajak will address attendees of Alliant International University's Multicultural Community-Clinical Psychology Spring Forum and Alumni Reception on April 19th at Bistro restaurant in Alhambra.
Ajak will be joined by co-author Judy Bernstein who met the authors through her work with the International Rescue Committee in San Diego. Along with Alliant Professor Elaine Burke, they will present "Refugee Experiences & Coping with Trauma," a discussion of the ethno-political crisis in the African country of Sudan, which has led to the displacement and refugee status for many citizens including a number of young men who were subsequently called the "Lost Boys of Sudan." Oscar Githua, M.A. (a Kenyan national and a student in our Forensic Program), who has worked with African refugees, will be facilitating the discussion.
Greener Newsroom
Keywords:: REFUGEE SUDAN AFRICA LOST BOY TRAUMA ETHNO-POLITICAL CRISIS KENYA RESCUE MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY ETHNIC MINORITY MENTAL HEATH
Labels: Human Rights
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