Over 27,000 boys of the Dinka ethnic group were given the name "Lost Boys" by aid organizations after they were separated from their families. They survived the genocide of their ethnic group since they were tending herds or able to escape to nearby jungles when their villages were systematically destroyed by government troops. Many of them traveled hundreds of miles to find assistance. About 4,000 Lost Boys were relocated to different areas of the United States including Cleveland where they are being hosted by Catholic Charities and other relief organizations.

After having read excerpts from the novel They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky written by Deng, Deng and Ajak, three Lost Boys, it was an honor for the tenth grade World Literature class to meet Akol who is a cousin of one of the authors of the book and hear about his experiences in person.

The students found him interesting and enjoyed listening to his story and asking questions about his life before his escape and after arriving in the United States. Jessie Schmies commented that meeting Akol in person helped the experiences she had read about come alive. "My favorite story he told was when he arrived and saw snow from the airplane. He thought the snow was wheat flour and that we had no room to store it so we left it on the ground," Jessie stated.

Teacher Gina Ramirez hopes that the class visit with Akol leads to a long-term relationship with the refugees. "My long term goal is to work closely with colleagues, students and the community to raise awareness and build connections with the Sudanese refugee community in Cleveland," she explained.

To read more about Akol's book, Sleeping With the Sun In His Eyes, and to purchase a copy, click here.