Menu
I BUILT A NEW LIFE IN LAS VEGAS THAT LED TO MARRIAGE AND A FAMILY WITH SIX WONDERFUL CHILDREN. TRAGICALLY, I LOST MY FIRSTBORN IN SUDAN BEFORE MY WIFE COULD JOIN ME IN THE U.S.
I, Santino Mathok Akot, was born in the Southern part of Sudan, specifically in the Aweil District, in 1975. My birthplace was a remote countryside area, far from any medical facilities. Consequently, I never had the privilege of possessing an official birth certificate. Instead, my birthdate was approximated using the date of Sudan’s independence from Britain and Egypt, which was January 1st, 1956.
My early years were profoundly shaped by the rustic life of our village. In our close-knit community, roles were clearly delineated between boys and girls. At a remarkably tender age, I shouldered the responsibilities of a farmer and a hunter, working side by side with my uncle, Dut Apin, to ensure our daily sustenance. My daily tasks included caring for our livestock – goats, cows, and sheep – as well as tending to the fields to grow the food we needed. I was nurtured with the expectation that I would evolve into a responsible young man under the watchful guidance of our elders.
The early loss of my parents cast a heavy shadow over my childhood. My mother passed away during childbirth when I was merely four or five years old. Consequently, my memories of her are scarce and fading. The loss of both parents dramatically reshaped the trajectory of my life. My father’s younger brother, Dut Apin, bravely stepped into the role of a father figure, taking me and my younger sister, Ukal Akot, under his care. This transition led us to Tetaker village. Life in our village was characterized by its simplicity and self-sufficiency, devoid of modern amenities like running water and electricity.
However, beneath the veneer of our seemingly peaceful existence, dark clouds of conflict loomed. The Northern Sudan government sought to impose its control over the South, with ambitions of Islamization and the transformation of Sudan into an Islamic state. Tragically, my father, who served in the Sudanese ministry, became a target. Accused of participating in a plot against the government, he paid the ultimate price, leaving my siblings and me orphaned.
The eruption of civil war shattered the serenity of our village. I witnessed the heart-wrenching sight of merciless Northern Sudan soldiers raiding and laying waste to everything we held dear. For a brief period, I found myself in captivity, a child robbed of his freedom. The second wave of attacks by Northern Sudan government soldiers was even more devastating. At the tender age of ten or eleven in 1987, I was thrust into a life of perpetual movement. I became a child constantly on the move, walking barefoot through unfamiliar terrain with no clear destination in sight except escaping the horrors that surrounded me.
My journey eventually led me to Dima, Ethiopia, in the Tigray region. Here, language barriers and stark cultural differences became daily challenges as I sought safety and a sense of belonging. After five years of living in uncertainty, a new conflict erupted in Ethiopia in 1991, prompting yet another displacement. Forced to leave Ethiopia, I eventually crossed the border back into Sudan. However, Sudan offered no respite; it became a transit point. I spent about a year shuttling between various locations before finally crossing into Kenya in 1992. In Kenya, I found refuge in Kakuma Refugee Camp, where I would spend a decade. Life in the camp was grueling, yet it represented a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.
The Lost Boys and Girls program paved the way for my journey to the United States. I arrived in Las Vegas on April 10, 2001, at the age of twenty-six. The overwhelming experience of adapting to a new life in an unfamiliar land, with different laws and lifestyles, weighed heavily on my mind. I often wondered if this would finally become a place I could call home.
Standing on the precipice of a new beginning in Las Vegas, I pondered whether this place would mark the end of my long journey or if I would continue searching for a place to truly call home.
My journey is a testament to human resilience and unwavering hope. I write books and I speak to share my life’s challenges and inspire others facing relentless obstacles.
MADE BY ELLIPSIS MARKETING
There And Back Again: A Journey Of Hope, Love And Forgiveness. Now available on Amazon! Click here to learn more
Ellipsis builds custom websites, hosts & maintains them for a low monthly fee. Great guys, easy to work with. Highly recommended! Checkout their Free Website Offer!