Who are the South Sudanese Refugees?
The South Sudanese Refugees are survivors of a mass exodus of children who fled south Sudan for the relative safety of Ethiopia in 1987 during a particularly violent phase of the Sudanese civil war. While the actual numbers are unclear, it is thought that as many as 20,000 children became refugees at that time, almost all of them orphaned by the fighting. Their wandering took them into Ethiopia, where they camped for several years before being driven back into Sudan by the Ethiopian army. Attrition among this group was extremely high, with losses due to starvation, thirst, military attacks, and animal predation. In 1992, 5000 plus survivors crossed into Kenya, where they were given asylum in the UN's Kakuma refugee camp. In 1999 the South Sudanese refugees were approved by the State Department for resettlement in the United States. The first of an eventual 3,500 began arriving in this country in the winter of 1999/2000. Of these, approximately 170 are now living in the greater Boston area. The South Sudanese refugees are considered by historians and refugee specialists to be an historically unique group. Almost all lost their parents and older relatives as young children, and during the decade and more of wandering and encampment they lived communally, with little assistance from adults. Among the traditions and values they evolved was a reverance and dedication to education. Since few were able to finish high school in Africa, those in the United States have been working toward vocational certificates and high school diplomas or GEDs, and graduates have begun college careers. Unfortunately, high educational costs have limited progress, as has lack of familiarity with American customs, procedures, and opportunities. The remedies are twofold:
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help and guidance in accessing information and making reasonable decisions about education, and
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financial support for educational needs.
SEF has been established to provide both.
What the cow means to the Sudanese:
It is difficult for most of us who grew up in the U.S. (even the dairy farmers among us) to grasp the significance of the cow to the Dinka people. The cow is deeply rooted in Dinka culture and identity. Cattle are the measure of wealth and are traditionally the center of most Dinka transactions-including the dowry process and celebrations, where as many as 100 cows might be paid to a bride's family. At the heart of virtually every important Dinka tradition and ceremony, the cow is the subject of songs, dances, myths, and legends.
The Dinka word for cow is pronounced “weng,” referring to the singular, or “hok” (short “o”), meaning several or a herd. Many of the Dinka guys can sculpt a cow from a lump of clay or mud, in reminiscence of their roles as cowherds in their villages many years ago.
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