AUBURN - What happens when students do not have clean water to drink or a school in which to study?
Gabriel Bol Deng, a former refugee from Sudan, will visit Auburn to share what it's like to be a child without the “luxuries” we take for granted.
This will be Bol Deng's third visit to Auburn. He will speak to students at Tyburn Academy, West Middle School and East Middle School on Friday and will be showing a film at 3 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 21.
“(This will bring) a greater awareness of all that we have,” said Sue Muldoon, director of extended school day programs with the Partnership for Results. “So often, we forget that. We are very fortunate in Auburn and in the U.S.”
Bol Deng's story, as narrated on his Web site, tells of a 10-year-old boy forced from his home by Sudanese militia men. He fled to Ethiopia and from a refugee camp there, he traveled to Kenya. In Kenya, he was given an education at the Kakuma Refugee Camp.
Bol Deng moved to Syracuse in 2001 and earned an associate degree in math and science from Onondaga Community College in 2004 and a bachelor's degree in math education and philosophy from LeMoyne College in 2007, according to the Web site. Muldoon said he is pursuing a master's degree in education at LeMoyne.
Bol Deng visited Casey Park Elementary School last year and Genesee Elementary School the year before. He talked to students about his childhood and the years he spent in refugee camps. He stressed the importance of education and promoted global awareness.
“The impact he has on the kids is really amazing,” said Muldoon. “You really need to see the effects of Gabe on the students.”
When Bol Deng spoke, each school started a “Pennies for Peace” drive and each was able to raise more than $1,000 to help Bol Deng bring clean drinking water to Ariang, his home village. When he speaks to the three schools Friday, each will kick off its own penny drive to help him build a school in Ariang. Muldoon said the goal is to form a youth subcommittee of the Syracuse-based foundation “Hope for Ariang” here in Auburn.
Staff writer Kelly Voll can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or kelly.voll@lee.net
This will be Bol Deng's third visit to Auburn. He will speak to students at Tyburn Academy, West Middle School and East Middle School on Friday and will be showing a film at 3 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 21.
“(This will bring) a greater awareness of all that we have,” said Sue Muldoon, director of extended school day programs with the Partnership for Results. “So often, we forget that. We are very fortunate in Auburn and in the U.S.”
Bol Deng's story, as narrated on his Web site, tells of a 10-year-old boy forced from his home by Sudanese militia men. He fled to Ethiopia and from a refugee camp there, he traveled to Kenya. In Kenya, he was given an education at the Kakuma Refugee Camp.
Bol Deng moved to Syracuse in 2001 and earned an associate degree in math and science from Onondaga Community College in 2004 and a bachelor's degree in math education and philosophy from LeMoyne College in 2007, according to the Web site. Muldoon said he is pursuing a master's degree in education at LeMoyne.
Bol Deng visited Casey Park Elementary School last year and Genesee Elementary School the year before. He talked to students about his childhood and the years he spent in refugee camps. He stressed the importance of education and promoted global awareness.
“The impact he has on the kids is really amazing,” said Muldoon. “You really need to see the effects of Gabe on the students.”
When Bol Deng spoke, each school started a “Pennies for Peace” drive and each was able to raise more than $1,000 to help Bol Deng bring clean drinking water to Ariang, his home village. When he speaks to the three schools Friday, each will kick off its own penny drive to help him build a school in Ariang. Muldoon said the goal is to form a youth subcommittee of the Syracuse-based foundation “Hope for Ariang” here in Auburn.
Staff writer Kelly Voll can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or kelly.voll@lee.net
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