Three ‘Lost Boys Of Sudan’ To Visit Newtown This Weekend

Ann Marie and Jerry Deluccio, two former residents of Newtown, will return for a visit to the community to relate a very important and heartfelt story on Sunday, April 20, at Trinity Episcopal Church. They will share their experiences helping the young refugees known as The Lost Boys of Sudan to find a new life in the United States and will be joined by three of the Lost Boys, now young men, who will give their own unique and personal perspective on the events in Sudan.

The Deluccios will present the sermon during Trinity’s 8:45 and 11:15 am services Sunday morning, and the three young men from Sudan will perform a traditional Dinka song during the services. In addition there will be an informative talk given by all five from 10 to 11 am in the church’s Glover Undercroft.

This program is part of Trinity’s commitment to the United Nations Millennium Goals. The public is invited to attend all these events and share in this rare educational opportunity.

A Story Worth Hearing

Despite the tragic circumstances, the story of The Lost Boys is both a fascinating and inspiring epic that demonstrates just how much of a difference ordinary people can make in a very troubled and challenged world. Most people are all too aware of the violent and brutal events that have been taking place in the Sudan. The occurrences in that East African nation are extremely disturbing and yet, to many they remain distant.

The catastrophic magnitude of the destruction and loss of life is overwhelming and unimaginable. The events are both literally and figuratively foreign to most Americans. But for some people, these distant realities have been a call to action — an opportunity to become involved and reach out in ways that have really made a difference.

The story of The Lost Boys begins in 1987, when thousands of orphaned boys ages 4 to 8 set out on a journey of more than 1,000 miles to seek safety in Ethiopia without the help of adult guides. These Lost Boys of Sudan faced incredible perils and hardship as they sought a haven. Many lost their lives to attackers, wild animals, or starvation. But many survived.

In 2000 the United States, in an unprecedented move, opened the doors for these young refugees. Today there are approximately 4,500 living and growing up in America, 40 of them in Rochester, N.Y., where Ann Marie and Jerry Deluccio now live.

The Deluccios founded and run the Hope of Sudan Foundation, which serves the educational needs of the Lost Boys of Sudan and Sudanese refugees. Its mission is to provide support and guidance for those Lost Boys who were fortunate enough to make their way to this nation’s shores. But the efforts of the foundation go far beyond that to touch the turbulent lives of the thousands of people still fighting for their survival in the south of Sudan.

Although the obstacles may seem daunting, even futile, there is much that can and is being done to make a difference in the lives of the Sudanese people, according to the Deluccios. The foundation concentrates its efforts on improving the educational opportunities for the young Sudanese, sponsoring young people to leave the refugee camps in favor of boarding schools in Kenya where they can live safely, eat and drink every day, and receive a quality education.

“The devastating civil war has destroyed the homes, the schools, but not the hope of these people,” said Mrs Deluccio. “There is so much to be done … so much we can do. It is amazing and incredibly gratifying to see how much a few dollars and the caring of good people can accomplish. The faith-filled people of Sudan there need the help and the prayers of us here who are in a position to make such a difference in their lives.”

The Deluccios have traveled extensively in East Africa, as well as in the United States, to further their understanding of the needs of Sudanese refugees and to spread the word. The Hope of Sudan Foundation is currently funding the education of 47 boys and girls in private boarding schools in Kenya.

The Deluccios visited and witnessed the remarkable educational efforts being provided. In addition they “adopted” two of the young men and encouraged more than 200 Rochester families to provide tutoring, mentoring, and aid in many significant ways. In a sense, the involvement of the Deluccios has turned out to be a personal journey of faith and personal development, a life-changing experience for them.

The Deluccios will be joined this weekend when they return to Newtown by Abraham Chol Biar, Anei Nhial, and Deng Wal, three of the Lost Boys, now young men, who live in Rochester. They will share their experiences and their faith as young boys surviving incredible odds to reach a better, safer life in the United States.

“The young men were settled in Rochester in 2001 as part of the single largest refugee resettlement undertaken by the United States at the time,” said Mr Deluccio. “They came to America after years spent within refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. Our country was able to provide hope for a population denied hope for most of their life. Hope came in the form of freedom, safety, and access to education. The Lost Boys as a whole developed a saying amongst themselves that ‘Education is my Mother and my Father.’”

Thanks to the foundation’s guidance and encouragement, many of these Lost Boys have matured into young men who today are embracing that “Mother and Father” at colleges, universities and in the workplace. Many of the young men have recently become proud citizens of the United States.

Trinity Episcopal Church is at the intersection of Church Hill Road and Main Street. The Glover Undercroft is located on the lower level directly beneath the sanctuary. Reservations are not needed for the program, and all are welcome. Call 426-9070 for additional information.