Have you ever wondered what it would be like to never to go to school You might think it would be great — no
homework, no teachers and no classes — but you would also not be able to read or write. Getting a good job would be impossible. That’s what many children in Sudan are facing, but one man, with the help of students, is trying to change all that. Gabriel Bol Deng is one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan. Last year, Gabriel gave one of his talks to our school. He returned this school year to reach more students. But I think his greatest message was that when he was in need, people helped him. He was given an education and then, when he came to the United States, he used his education and his story to help others and to give kids like him a chance at life and basic education. Gabriel is building schools in Sudan so that young students can get a primary education. Gabriel cannot do it all by himself, so students are helping out. For the second year, the students at Westhill High School are holding a fundraiser walk. For two hours on Saturday, we are walking for the children of Sudan. The walk signifies just a bit of what Gabriel did when he was a child, walking more than 1,000 miles through harsh conditions to a refugee camp.
Last year, students raised over $3,000 to build schools in Sudan. This year, we are hoping to raise more.