By Masharikileo Correspondent
Filed at 8:00 P.M. CT

May 16, 2004 (ML) - - Ever heard of The Lost Boys of Sudan? Well, Atem and his community of immigrants have come to be commonly identified as "The Lost Boys." This identity is based on a tragic documentary dubbed "Lost Boys of Sudan" that was released recently by San Francisco filmmakers Meghan Mylan and Jon Shenk.

The documentary follows a story of two teenage orphans who travel from a refugee camp in Kenya called Kakuma to new lives in America's Houston and Olathe, Kan. Evidently this documentary mirrors the same journey Dut Atem and his fellow young Sudanese took several years to resettle in Chicago neighborhoods.

On May 15, 2004, at Chicago's Harry S. Truman College, Atem joined his comrade lost boys to celebrate the freedom enjoyed by a fraction of Sudanese immigrants in the United States.

Atem, a slender dark man who stands 6 feet tall speaks very good English considering that he has only been in the United States for less than ten years and English was never his first language. As such he was delegated to serve as a Master of Ceremony and admittedly, "he did a wonderful job", said John Ngugi, native of Kenya and employee at Truman College who helped out as program coordinator of the event.

The well-attended event was graced by community leaders from the various Chicago-based African communities and City officials.  Arnold Romeo, Director of African Affairs at the City of Chicago's Advisory Council read and presented a proclamation letter by Mayor Richard M. Daley declaring May 15 a "Day Celebrating the Long March to Freedom by the Sudan's Lost Boys".

Anghesom Atsbaha, Director of Bridge Program between Truman and DePaul University, said "Tuman has become the closest home-away-from-home for this special community whose plight the world seems to have ignored. We are proud to offer the necessary and needed transition as they become part of the American fabric."

Doris Dinsmore, Director for Resettlement World Relief, Edwin Silverman, Director for Illinois Department of Human Services, Mike Dubiel, president of Chicago Association for Lost Boys of Sudan acknowledged the incredible progress the boys have made over the years. They expressed the need for more support from Chicagoans such as education.  Dubiel ceased the moment to announce that his organization has launched a program that will be offering scholarship opportunities to Sudanese's Lost Boys in Chicago area.

The event concluded with dance, music and outright delights that resulted in tears rolling down chicks of several grown up women, children and men like Emanuel Kuanyin Agot who immigrated to the US in 1996. Agot found himself sobbing softly into his bare hands when he, for the first time, heard a group of youths from local American families sang "We Shall Overcome" in his native language.

Over the last six to eight years to US government has been relocating hundreds of Sudanese to various cities across the United States and Chicago is host to 150.  These immigrants, most of them boys, stay in host American families whom have been solicited through churches and several not-for-profit organizations.

Since the late 1980's between 20 and 40 thousand Sudanese are said to have escaped war-torn southern Sudan to seek refugee in neighboring Kenya. Out of an international outcry for help in the ongoing atrocities in Sudan, the United States has admitted over 3,800 Sudanese mostly boys on refugee status thereafter integrated into the society as permanent residents.

The US, Kenyan and other regional and international agencies are overseeing ongoing peace talks near Lake Naivasha, Kenya In the meantime a further thousands southern Sudanese fled another round of atrocities orchestrated by predominantly Arab-led Sudan's northern government.  For now, the lost boys may as well be called Chicago's found boys of Sudan.

A BBQ celebration of Madaraka Day
Calling all Chicago and Milwaukee Kenyans!
All Milwaukee and Chicago Kenyans, their families and friends are cordially invited to a BBQ celebration of Madaraka Day at the Lakewood Forest Preserve (Shelter D) in Wauconda, IL on Saturday, June 5, 2004 from 12 noon to 6 PM.

There will be lots of Nyama Choma and drinks along with games and activities for all ages commemorating this great event in Kenya’s history.  This event is sponsored jointly by the United Kenyans of Chicago (NFP) Organization and the Milwaukee Kenyan Community.

12 noon – 6 pm.
Lakewood Forest Preserve (Shelter D)
27900 North Forest Preserve Rd
Wauconda, Illinois.
(Click here for directions) [Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed]
(Click here for flier) [Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed]

Tickets to attend this celebration are:
• Children under 3 years-old admission is free
• Youth (3 to 12 years) $4.00
• All others $7.00 per person
• Family (couple + 2 children) $15.00 ($12.50 in advance)

* RSVP to reserve a ticket before May 29th and receive $1 off youth admission and $2 off adult (other) admission

All are welcome | Karibuni Nyote!

For more information please contact:
Chicago: email: info@chicagokenyans.org or call UKC 847-258-7214
Milwaukee: email: werhugo@aol.com or njugunamtalii@yahoo.com or call Mike Were 414-839-5019