Jacob Atem
Advocates for Literacy at the United Nations
Lost Boy of Sudan, Jacob Atem, speaks at the United Nations August 2010
Laura Bush, an honorary ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade, spoke about efforts underway in Afghanistan to ensure education and literacy for women. She reiterated the far-reaching impact of women’s literacy on families, communities, and countries. Jacob Atem, a Sudanese refugee who learned to read in a UN refugee camp in Kenya, said that “literacy remains the most essential building block for meaningful change” and shared his organization’s efforts in Southern Sudan “to establish literacy skills as a basis for bringing improvement, stability, and prosperity to our communities.”
Reunion of A Lifetime!!!
The last time Jacob saw his sister was when enemy soldiers captured her and his nieces and took them away. The last time his sister saw him was watching him struggle for his life in the Nile River. All these years she thought he had drowned. All these years Jacob has been searching for her. Finally, after 31 years they were hugging again! Jacob had many hugs to give to his newly discovered nieces and nephews. What an exciting way to start his mission to South Sudan!
Learn About Jacob's Search for His Sister
Thirty-one years ago in 1991, my homeland was amid a civil war. The allied Sudan Armed
Forces (SAF) attacked us around 1 am near the Nile River in Malek, Bor County, Jonglei State. My entire family was in disarray and people were displaced in different directions. My sister Ayen, nieces (Nyankiir and Adum), sisters-in-law (Adual and her kids), and my stepmother, Alekdit hid near the Nile River near Malek.
Around 1 pm many children were hungry and started to cry, so a woman from my clan,
sneaked out and got milk for them. The woman brought back the milk but unfortunately, it was not enough for the children. So, she decided to go back to the bush to get more milk. I just had a weird feeling and I started yelling,” Mama A, please don’t go into the bushes again. You will give away our position to the enemy.”
She didn’t listen to me. She went and cooked the milk in the bushes. The smoke from her fire gave away her location. On her way back, the enemy spotted her as she was coming near our hiding place. The enemy shot her several times and unfortunately, she was hit by the bullets on her right hip side. Now the enemy knew our location. As the enemy approach our hiding place, I was scared and jumped into the Nile River. Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to swim at that time. I started to drown. A good Samaritan came and pulled me out of the River Nile and threw me onto the small dry island near the Nile River.
As the enemy entered the hiding place, they stepped on my head with their gumboot. I had to surrender. The next thing, I knew, the enemy had captured me, my stepmother, and my stepsisters. By God’s grace, the enemy later, let me and my stepmother, Alekdit, go. They knew they had no use for us. I was too young to be a child soldier for them. Later that evening, I learned that the enemy had captured my sister (Ayen in Yellow dress below), Adum (in the red dress below), and Nyankiir, the enemy took them away. This was the last time we would see one another.
For 31 years, I have been searching for my sister and nieces. Finally, on January 30, 2022, I was able to find my sister (Ayen) and niece and fly them to Juba (the capital city of South Sudan). What is unique about my sister and nieces’ reunion is the fact that they brought with them those who abducted them and their family members and who they have lived with for the last 31 years.
My sister, Ayen is married and has six children still living. Three children died. Adum has seven children and Nyankiir has 5 children that are still living. In about 7 days, I will be going to South Sudan on SSHCO business and will be able to meet my sister and nieces for the first time since they were captured in front of me 31 years ago.
February 19, we will hold the thanksgiving prayers for my sister and the two nieces. On that day, please pray for me and my family. I will try to get my family to accept my sister, nieces, and their children who now identified with other families from another tribe that has been taking care of them for the last 31 years. My sister and nieces no longer speak the Dinka language which will make communication difficult. However, we will have a translator.
Starting with my family, I’m asking everyone concerned to put aside anger and hatred so there can be peace in our family and South Sudan. I’m asking for prayers for a safe journey to South Sudan.
Sincerely,
Jacob
