October 22, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live Blog:

Bol’s Story

The backdrop of Bol’s story is first told by looking at his bio.

Bol starts telling his story by first fast-forwarding to 2006 when he started attending Ohio State University. While enrolling, he was initially charged the out-of-state fee (he and the crowd both laugh). But as the staff were trying to ascertain from where Bol hailed, it became clear that this would be difficult to determine because he didn’t really have a home. Bol then begins to tell us the story of his uprooting and subsequent journey, complete with his own artwork describing the perilous trek (will post images soon).

His Life Before
When he was 6 years old and growing up in southern Sudan troops, who were part of a government conflict, opened gun fire on his town and waged a war against the civilians living there. He was so young he did not even understand what was happening… he just started running.

Last memory
His last memory is of his beautiful village and yard. He was in his yard when the fighting broke out.

Lion Chase
After fleeing the town with a group of other children, they wandered the countryside and unfortunately encountered lions along the way. They were attacked and their only defense was to come together in tight groupings and to yell and scream and throw sticks. At times they had to hide in trees. Many in the group were lost.

Surviving on Wild Plants
Unfortunately, there was no food for them to eat because the relief agencies could not access them. They were forced to eat leaves, wild berries and roots. Some of the foods they ingested were poisonous and more of their group were lost.

Crossing the Gilo Rivers
Their dwindling group made it to Ethiopia, where they stayed for 4 years until another conflict broke out. They were forced to flee back to Sudan but the currents of the river blocking their way back were strong and impassable. However, they as refugees, were under gunfire and were forced into the river anyway. Only half of the remaining group survived the combination of gunshots, river crocodiles and deadly current. In his own words “Crossing the Gilo was the longest moment of my life.” When he finally reached the other side he again “just ran.”

Health Center
He and his brother Jok returned to their village in 2007 for the first time in 20 years.

What’s Next
What’s next for him is to organize and provide medical services in his village.