Fort Morgan Rotary Club Hears From Lost Boy of Sudan
Posted by Douglas Crandall
on Jul 31, 2012
James Manyror, founder of the Sudanese American Orphaned Rehabilitation Organization, spoke to the club about his life as a former Lost Boy of Sudan and his work to help the children of his native village Pariang in South Sudan.
James Manyror, a former Lost Boy of Sudan and currently a resident of Fort Morgan, spoke to the Fort Morgan Rotary Club on Tuesday, July 31st. James shared with us his story as a lost boy of Sudan, which started when his home village of Pariang was destroyed by fighters from northern Sudan. He and other children like him who had been out of the village tending to the family herds were forced to walk hundreds of miles to Ethiopia to find refuge. Then, several years later, when that country collapsed, they were again forced to flee back through Sudan, which was still not safe, to Kenya. There the refugees, after several years, were offered the chance to come to the US and try and start a life for themselves.
James was brought to Denver in 2001 and about a year and a half ago moved to Fort Morgan for work. According to the brochure he brought with him, in 2005 James felt compelled to help the orphans and street children in his native village of Pariang, in South Sudan, which voted to split off from Sudan and establish independence in 2011. James created the Sudanese American Orphaned Rehabilitation Organization, or SAORO. Since 2008, James has operated Gumriak Orphanage and Community School. Gumriak is the only free school in Pariang.
SAORO's mission is to enrich the lives of orphaned children in Pariang village by providing them with a safe and caring environment and providing education and guidance to them and other disadvantaged children. SAORO is currently working to raise funds to build a more permanent facility in Pariang for Gumriak that will withstand the elements and provide more durable classrooms and housing.
The Fort Morgan Rotary Club and community has the opportunity to assist James and the children of Pariang. Donations can be made online at www.saoro06.org
James was brought to Denver in 2001 and about a year and a half ago moved to Fort Morgan for work. According to the brochure he brought with him, in 2005 James felt compelled to help the orphans and street children in his native village of Pariang, in South Sudan, which voted to split off from Sudan and establish independence in 2011. James created the Sudanese American Orphaned Rehabilitation Organization, or SAORO. Since 2008, James has operated Gumriak Orphanage and Community School. Gumriak is the only free school in Pariang.
SAORO's mission is to enrich the lives of orphaned children in Pariang village by providing them with a safe and caring environment and providing education and guidance to them and other disadvantaged children. SAORO is currently working to raise funds to build a more permanent facility in Pariang for Gumriak that will withstand the elements and provide more durable classrooms and housing.
The Fort Morgan Rotary Club and community has the opportunity to assist James and the children of Pariang. Donations can be made online at www.saoro06.org